Victorian man fronts court over alleged bestiality act caught on camera

A Victorian man accused of penetrating a pig – an alleged act inadvertently filmed by animal rights activists – has fronted court. Bradley O’Reilly, of Carag Carag, faced a bestiality charge in the Echuca Magistrates’ Court in northern Victoria on Tuesday. No plea has been entered. Appearing by video link, defence lawyer Douglas Shirrefs said additional disclosure about the case was expected to be delivered later that day, but he requested an adjournment, which police did not oppose, to late September for scheduling reasons. Magistrate Russell Kelly continued Mr O’Reilly’s bail and set the next court date for October 8. Media applications to access court documents were adjourned to that date. Mr O’Reilly was at court, wearing grey dress pants, a black button-up shirt, brown shoes and a brown belt. There appeared to be a support person in court. Mr O’Reilly sat in a public gallery seat and was not asked to say anything. The alleged bestiality incident happened at Midland Bacon in Carag Carag in February. Activists from the Farm Transparency Project had broken into the pig sheds and installed cameras as they looked for evidence of general mistreatment of the pigs. The Farm Transparency Project strategy and campaigns director confirmed the footage was handed over to police by the group. “Officers were told a man had performed a sexual act on an animal at a property on Robertson Road about 2.15am,” a police spokesperson said at the time.