Farm protester to deny charges

A man who chained himself to a silo at a Waikato pig farm in protest against factory farming was remanded on bail after appearing in court this afternoon.

John Darroch spent last night in a Hamilton police station cell after police used an angle grinder to cut the chains and arrest him.

In Hamilton District Court Darroch, 22, indicated he would deny two charges trespassing and unlawfully being on the farm property.

He was remanded until next month.

Armed with a sleeping bag, Darroch went to the farm yesterday morning chaining himself to an eight-metre high grain silo with the intention of spending at least two days there.

Several of his supporters stood at the front gate with banners, placards and pig costumes.

Police were called by the farm just before 9pm to remove Darroch.

He told the Waikato Times his actions were not aimed farm owner Kevin Monk who was acting lawfully but at an "industry which is inherently cruel and a government which refuses to act".

- NZPA