Watch: Rally enthusiasts prepare send off to Michael Gaine

Mike Gaine: Pat Spillane and Danny Healy-Ray among hundreds of mourners ahead of farmer's funeral

Irish Independent

2 days ago

Irish Independent

Mike Gaine: Pat Spillane and Danny Healy-Ray among hundreds of mourners ahead of farmer's funeral

Mr Gaine was cremated earlier this week, with his ashes reposing between 2pm and 7pm at Finnegan's funeral parlour. Queues of mourners, waiting to pay their respects to the 56-year-old farmer, began forming at 1.30pm. The line eventually stretched back to the town centre, with mourners standing in the rain as they waited. Mr Gaine's wife Janice was driven to the door of the funeral home shortly before 2pm. She was led in through the door under a sea of umbrellas. Also there to greet mourners were Mr Gaine's two sisters, Catherine and Noreen and other extended family members. Tributes to Mr Gaine included a photo display depicting him in him in his rally car racing days, as well as photos of him with farm machinery and socialising with friends. Outside the funeral home, in a nod to Mr Gaine's love of farming, was a red Fiat Tractor. Five rallycars, including Ford Escort MK2 the farmer used to compete in, were lined up in a nearby car park. A group of Mr Gaine's close friends at Killarney and District Motor Club (KDMC) spent last week restoring his old car ahead of his funeral tomorrow. The car will lead a procession around the town after the service as Mr Gaine's ashes are taken to their final resting place. Among the more well-known faces at the funeral home today were Sports pundit Pat Spillane and Kerry TD Danny Healy-Rae. Mr Gaine's funeral mass will take place tomorrow at 10.30am in Holy Cross Church in Kenmare, according to a notice on His funeral mass will be livestreamed. Afterwards, Mr Gaine's rally car, carrying his ashes, will do a lap of honour around Kenmare town. Rally car divers from all over Ireland are expected to travel to the Kerry town to join in the procession. The notice said Mr Gaine, who went missing from his farm on March 20, will be sadly missed and fondly remembered by his heartbroken family members and friends in the farming and rallying communities. His final resting place is to be kept private. Mr Gaine's family has asked for family flowers only, with donations in lieu of flowers to Kerry Mountain Rescue and SARDA (Search and Rescue Dog Association). Both these organisations played a significant role in the search for Mr Gaine after he was first reported missing on March 21. The family thanked the public for their "support and understanding at this extremely difficult time". An extensive search for the Kerry farmer took place over eight weeks. The case was officially upgraded to from a missing persons probe to homicide just over a month ago. Mr Gaine's partial remains were found almost two weeks ago when his nephew and close friend were spreading slurry. DNA confirmed the partial remains as those of Mr Gaine. The farm was immediately closed off and declared a crime scene. Specialised garda units and the Defence Forces have spent the past two weeks on the farm just outside Kenmare searching for evidence in the ongoing murder investigation. A man was arrested and later released without charge in the case.

Hundreds of mourners pay respects to murdered farmer Mike Gaine ahead of funeral

Irish Independent

2 days ago

Irish Independent

Hundreds of mourners pay respects to murdered farmer Mike Gaine ahead of funeral

Mr Gaine was cremated earlier this week, with his ashes reposing between 2pm and 7pm at Finnegan's funeral parlour. Queues of mourners, waiting to pay their respects to the 56-year-old farmer, began forming at 1.30pm. The line eventually stretched back to the town centre, with mourners standing in the rain as they waited. Mr Gaine's wife Janice was driven to the door of the funeral home shortly before 2pm. She was led in through the door under a sea of umbrellas. Also there to greet mourners were Mr Gaine's two sisters, Catherine and Noreen and other extended family members. Tributes to Mr Gaine included a photo display depicting him in him in his rally car racing days, as well as photos of him with farm machinery and socialising with friends. Outside the funeral home, in a nod to Mr Gaine's love of farming, was a red Fiat Tractor. Five rallycars, including Ford Escort MK2 the farmer used to compete in, were lined up in a nearby car park. A group of Mr Gaine's close friends at Killarney and District Motor Club (KDMC) spent last week restoring his old car ahead of his funeral tomorrow. The car will lead a procession around the town after the service as Mr Gaine's ashes are taken to their final resting place. Among the more well-known faces at the funeral home today were Sports pundit Pat Spillane and Kerry TD Danny Healy-Rae. Mr Gaine's funeral mass will take place tomorrow at 10.30am in Holy Cross Church in Kenmare, according to a notice on His funeral mass will be livestreamed. Afterwards, Mr Gaine's rally car, carrying his ashes, will do a lap of honour around Kenmare town. Rally car divers from all over Ireland are expected to travel to the Kerry town to join in the procession. The notice said Mr Gaine, who went missing from his farm on March 20, will be sadly missed and fondly remembered by his heartbroken family members and friends in the farming and rallying communities. His final resting place is to be kept private. Mr Gaine's family has asked for family flowers only, with donations in lieu of flowers to Kerry Mountain Rescue and SARDA (Search and Rescue Dog Association). Both these organisations played a significant role in the search for Mr Gaine after he was first reported missing on March 21. The family thanked the public for their "support and understanding at this extremely difficult time". An extensive search for the Kerry farmer took place over eight weeks. The case was officially upgraded to from a missing persons probe to homicide just over a month ago. Mr Gaine's partial remains were found almost two weeks ago when his nephew and close friend were spreading slurry. DNA confirmed the partial remains as those of Mr Gaine. The farm was immediately closed off and declared a crime scene. Specialised garda units and the Defence Forces have spent the past two weeks on the farm just outside Kenmare searching for evidence in the ongoing murder investigation. A man was arrested and later released without charge in the case.

Watch: Rally enthusiasts prepare send off to Michael Gaine

Irish Examiner

3 days ago

Irish Examiner