Evidence to be challenged in the case of a man allegedly having sex with a pig

He is accused of bestiality.

The prosecution alleges Mr O’Reilly had sex with a pig at the Midland Bacon pigsty where he worked in February.

The charges were brought after animal activists from the Farm Transparency Project captured images of illegally installed secret cameras in the pigsty in February.

The group had installed the cameras in the hope of capturing unethical practices at the piggery ahead of a Victorian government investigation into the state’s pig industry.

Mr O’Reilly’s lawyer, Douglas Shirrefs, says video footage recorded in the pigsty was obtained illegally and therefore should be inadmissible in the case against Mr O’Reilly.

Before the match was called on Wednesday, Mr Shirrefs requested that the court be closed to the media over the matter because it was an embarrassment to his client.

However, Magistrate Trieu Huynh rejected this request and the court remained open.

A voir dire hearing will be held before a magistrate in June next year to decide the admissibility of evidence in a case.

If the evidence is found admissible, a contested hearing will take place in the Bendigo Magistrates’ Court later that month, which will include an activist from the Farm Transparency Project.