Bradley O’Reilly: Victorian bacon farmer cleared of accusations he raped a pig thanks to vigilante activists
The 32-year-old was allegedly caught on cameras installed by animal rights activists sexually assaulting a pig, later named Olivia.
A Victorian farmer accused of raping a pig has been acquitted after a judge ruled evidence in the case was acquired illegally.
Bradley O’Reilly was accused of one charge of bestiality after he was allegedly filmed sexually assaulting a sow on Midland Bacon pig farm in Carag Carag, northern Victoria.
The 32-year-old was allegedly filmed raping the pig, labelled Sow No. 8416, in February 2024 by a secret camera installed by the Farm Transparency Project, a group of animal rights activists.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.It is believed the Farm Transparency Project were attempting to investigate alleged animal abuse when the footage, allegedly showing Mr O’Reilly, was obtained.
The Farm Transparency Project later named the sow Olivia.
According to the Daily Mail, Mr O’Reilly was acquitted of his single charge by a Magistrate Williams last week, who said the method by which the Farm Transparency Project installed the CCTV was illegal and therefore could not be used as evidence against the accused.
“Vigilantism, even for laudable reasons, cannot and should not be encouraged,” Magistrate Williams said.
Magistrate Williams said the way Victoria Police dealt with the case was “recklessly deceptive” and “plainly improper”, after the judge claimed they tried to deceive Mr O’Reilly into confessing while in custody.
“We’re not about punishing you or trying to embarrass you or anything like that, Bradley... we’re here to help you,” one officer said in a 24-minute secret recording, which was allegedly unbeknownst to Mr O’Reilly.
“You can be honest with us about what’s going on... because that’s the only way we can help you.”
Officers later stated that Mr O’Reilly had confessed, but after they had stopped recording.
The court also heard Mr O’Reilly was not offered his right to speak to a lawyer before the secretly-recorded interview began, and that officers led him to believe he would not be charged if he cooperated with them.
Magistrate Williams told the court the recorded conversation was “deliberately misleading”, and that officers implied O’Reilly would not be charged despite assuming a bestiality charge was ‘likely’.
“The obtaining of a conviction on the basis of that evidence is bought at a price which is unacceptable having regard to contemporary standards. Accordingly, I’d also refuse to the record of interview,” the Magistrate said.
Originally published on PerthNow
