A Brisbane bikini model and vegan animal activist ordered to pay for piglets she stole from a Darling Downs piggery insists she was doing the right thing.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Lauren McGeachin posted Instagram videos of the late-night "rescue" and pleaded guilty to stealing livestock.
The passionate animal rights activist on Thursday was ordered to pay $300 compensation for the piglets stolen from a farm near Toowoomba.
She was also ordered to perform 90 hours of community service when she appeared in Brisbane Magistrates Court.
The 28-year-old posted a series of distressing videos on social media titled "piglet rescue" she and other activists carried out in November.
The footage showed piles of dead piglets in a stall with a live sow and feeding piglets.
Other videos show partially buried pig carcasses and McGeachin cradling the rescued piglets.
She also posted an array of photos and videos of her playing with two piglets at a home.
The RSPCA volunteer later told her 70,000 Instagram followers the animals had been confiscated and she was worried they would be euthanised.
Three other women have been charged over the piggery raid.
McGeachin and other activists earlier targeted a Warwick egg farm in July 2019 where a number of chickens were stolen.
The activists tried to obscure their identity as they scaled gates and cut through security fences before breaking into the chicken sheds.
Images and video of the late-night chicken raid were also posted on McGeachin's social media accounts.
Footage showed the activists handling the chickens, breaching biosecurity guidelines, before a number of hens were stolen.
Police seized mobile phones and analysed the GPS data before the model and others were charged over the egg farm raid.
McGeachin was not charged with stealing chickens.
The animal activist pleaded guilty to two counts of enter premises with intent to commit an indictable offence and one count of stealing stock.
The court was told the model joined the raids to "see for herself" the welfare of the animals and was "overwhelmed by the putrid conditions".
She tendered a letter of apology to the piggery owner, but outside the court said she was not remorseful, insisting she had done the right thing.
"If that was someone in there, they would want to be rescued too, so I am just doing what is right," McGeachin told reporters.
"If an animal is in danger, I will help it."
Magistrate Anthony Gett acknowledged McGeachin's passion for animal welfare issues but said it was no excuse for breaking the law.
"Some level of deterrence must be applied in this case when persons such as yourself in promotion of a cause unlawfully enter premises to further their investigation or their own causes," the magistrate said.
Australian Associated Press
