
Man arrested for farmer Michael Gaine's murder released without charge
Mr Gaine, a 56-year-old sheep farmer with land near Kenmare in Co Kerry, was reported missing more than eight weeks ago.
On Saturday, partial remains were found at Mr Gaine's farm in Carrig East, and a crime scene was declared as gardai searched for further remains.
On Sunday, a man aged in his 50s was arrested on suspicion of Mr Gaine's murder.
A general view of Killarney Garda Station. (PA)
He was held for 24 hours for questioning before being released.
He was driven away from Killarney Garda Station in an unmarked garda car shortly before 11pm on Monday.
Gardai said the Gaine family have been kept up to date with developments and said the family have asked for privacy.
The search and examination of Mr Gaine's farmland is set to continue, gardai said, aided by the emergency services and Irish troops.
Several personnel were seen digging near a barn on Monday afternoon while Irish soldiers searched a field further away by hand.
Kerry Drain Services machinery was also seen at the scene on Monday.
Over the past eight weeks, several appeals have been issued and extensive searches involving Irish soldiers, the Garda water unit and road checkpoints have been held to try to find the missing man.
Army personnel close to the farm of Michael 'Mike' Gaine near Kenmare in Co Kerry, as the search for the 56-year-old sheep farmer continues.
Around 2,200 hours of CCTV and dashcam footage and 130 witness statements were taken by the end of April.
Mr Gaine's wife Janice and sister Noreen O'Regan issued a plea at that time, a day after gardai upgraded the investigation from 'missing person' to homicide.
An appeal for the public to help with their investigation has been renewed by gardai this week.
Those with information have been asked to contact the confidential Garda line or any Garda station.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


BreakingNews.ie
11 hours ago
- BreakingNews.ie
Ex-Ryanair pilot charged over €10m drugs seizure has bail application pending at High Court
A former Ryanair pilot who is charged in connection with the possession of more than €10 million worth of drugs has an application for bail pending before the High Court, a court has heard. Brendan O'Mara (62), of An Tulach, Summerhill, Meelick, Co Clare, made his fourth appearance at Ennis District Court concerning the seizure of an estimated €10 million worth of cannabis at his home in Co Clare on May 7th. Advertisement Mr O'Mara appeared in court on Wednesday via video-link from a booth at Limerick prison after a judge refused him bail at a special sitting of Ennis District Court on May 10th following Garda objections. Judge Gabbett asked if there was any news on directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and Sgt Frank O'Grady said DPP directions were still outstanding. Mr O'Mara's solicitor, Ted McCarthy, said: 'There is a bail application pending before the High Court and I am hoping that will be resolved shortly.' Mr McCarthy asked that the case be adjourned for two weeks and Judge Gabbett said that if Mr O'Mara does secure High Court bail in the meantime he must turn up to court in person on June 25th. Advertisement Mr O'Mara faces two charges – possessing cannabis for sale or supply, and possessing cannabis, on May 7th. At the contested bail hearing on May 10th, gardaí told the court Mr O'Mara made no reply to the charges after caution, and that 'further, and more serious charges' may be brought against him in respect of the case where gardaí seized an estimated 502kg in cannabis. Sergeant Rob Sheehy of the Limerick Divisional Drugs Unit said he was objecting to bail because of the 'strength and nature of the evidence' as well as the high value of the drugs. He told the court that the Garda investigation was in its 'infancy', but he said gardaí believed that 'it stretches to a number of countries and there are a number of persons that need to be established'. Advertisement He claimed Mr O'Mara was also a flight risk, due to his 'aeronautical knowledge', that he has a number of pilots licenses, and has links to the USA. Applying for bail on May 10th, solicitor Tara Godfrey said the accused has 'three pilots licences including a helicopter licence, a UK pilot licence and a EASA (European Union Aviation Safety Agency) licence', and he would 'hand over' his licences to the State and not leave the country. 'His Ryanair crew card is being returned to his former employers,' Ms Godfrey said. Ireland Former Ryanair pilot charged with €10m drug seizur... Read More Ms Godfrey said a sister of Mr O'Mara was in the court and had pledged to act as an independent bail surety for the accused for up to €177,000. Appealing for the court not to hold the accused in custody, Ms Godfrey said Mr O'Mara 'has offered up all the means he could to leave this country' and has significant ties here. 'He enjoys the presumption of innocence,' she said. Judge Gabbett remanded Mr O'Mara in custody to re-appear at Ennis District Court on June 25th.


BreakingNews.ie
12 hours ago
- BreakingNews.ie
Widow of murder victim ordered to pay €11,000 for care of seized XL Bully dogs
A judge has ordered the widow of murder victim Jason Hennessy Sr to pay over €11,000 for the care of her four XL Bully dogs, seized in Dublin after one escaped and terrorised gardaí. Veronica Maher (54) pleaded that her four beloved restricted breed pets were all she had to remember her late husband, who was shot dead in a Blanchardstown steakhouse on Christmas Eve, 2023. Advertisement Ms Maher, of Sheephill Avenue, Blanchardstown, came before Dublin District Court on May 28th to challenge a Garda application under the Control of Dogs Act for an order to destroy Oddie, Reggie, their mother Medusa, and the fourth dog, Joe. They have been in a dog pound and given veterinary attention since being taken from Ms Maher on April 4th. Granting a destruction order for all four, Judge Anthony Halpin had noted evidence of six gardaí at the scene on March 28th when four officers fled from Oddie, who escaped from Ms Maher's garden. He accepted they had to take 'evasive action to save themselves from being savaged by an XL Bully dog.' He said they were terrified, and 'I can only imagine the utmost horror which they experienced.' Advertisement However, Ms Maher is to appeal, attempting to overturn the ruling in the Circuit Court about Oddie and possibly bringing a judicial review of the destruction order being extended to the other three dogs. This has led to a temporary halt on the animals being put down pending the outcome of the appeals. On Wednesday, the case resumed, and she appeared again before Judge Halpin to consider costs. Garda Sergeant Michael Harkin said the upkeep of the dogs for the past nine weeks was €10,716, and there was a €500 vet's bill. Advertisement Judge Halpin granted the costs order for Ms Maher to pay €11,216 but also acceded to Ms Maher's lawyer's application for a transcript of the original hearing for the appeal. During the earlier hearing, Judge Halpin said Oddie 'left the premises and pursued the gardaí was dangerous and could easily have fatally wounded one or all those gardaí,' he remarked. Visibly upset, Ms Maher denied opening a gate to unleash the unmuzzled dog on gardai patrolling in her cul-de-sac. She said the dogs were part of her family, like their children, and Oddie slept in her king-sized bed. Advertisement The judge also noted evidence that she had these dogs to protect the property. She testified that three-year-old Oddie jumped the front garden wall, and she denied the accusation that she set the dog on the garda. She also claimed Medusa had also been in the yard at the time. The court heard the other two were in cages in the back garden, and Oddie had already damaged a rear garden exit. Garda Sean McLoughlin alleged that when he got near her house, she told him, 'Get the f**k away from my house yous murderers'. Advertisement He was in absolute fear for his life that he would be viciously attacked by the dog, which chased and tried to bite him. He alleged she let the dog out her front garden gate. He and three colleagues fled to different gardens, with one standing on a wall until backup arrived a few minutes later. He believed that Oddie was a credible threat and he would be set on them again. Ms Maher brought the dog back into the house, and she denied telling gardaí, 'If yous don't fuck off now, I'll get him back out here.' Witness Kayleigh McEntee (26), of Waterville Row, Blanchardstown, was at the house and contradicted the evidence that Ms Maher opened the gate. She also said the dogs were safe and often around children. Ireland Judge orders 'destruction' of XL Bully dogs owned... Read More Three more gardaí said they also had had to flee to gardens in the cul de sac, with one telling Judge Halpin that he feared he would be killed. Photographs were handed in showing some of the dogs with family and children. In his ruling, Judge Halpin described one image of an infant surrounded by two enormous XL Bully dogs as upsetting 'given the potential ferocity of these animals'. He found that the dogs were dangerous and not under proper control.


BreakingNews.ie
16 hours ago
- BreakingNews.ie
Man (24) stood behind woman on crowded Luas and soiled her dress with his semen
"My life has changed completely since that day. I feel disgusted and utterly violated," were the words of a woman traumatised after a man stood behind her on a crowded Luas tram and soiled her dress with his semen. Security guard Abdiweli Ali (24) was jailed for eight months for the broad daylight sexual assault on June 10th last year. Advertisement Dublin District Court heard it happened as the woman and her friend travelled in broad daylight to the 3Arena for a Smashing Pumpkins concert. Describing it as an "appalling offence", Judge Grainne Malone stated she had to ensure women could travel safely on public transport without being violated in this way, and there had to be a deterrent. Ali, from Somalia, came to Ireland in 2020, claiming he fled from terrorist groups. He denied the allegation for a year and changed his plea shortly before his trial was due to start. Advertisement Garda Colm Maguire played CCTV footage and described how Ali and the victim, in her late twenties, boarded the tram at the Busáras Luas stop at 7.20pm. It was jam-packed, and Ali stood behind her for the eight-minute trip. "At one point during the journey, the injured party felt something wet on the back of her leg but didn't have enough room to check what it actually was while on the Luas." "On arrival at The Point Luas stop with her friend, she check her skirt and found what she suspected to be semen on her skirt." Ali also got off and ran to a taxi to take him to work. Advertisement She reported it to gardaí on beat in the area, and her skirt was later sent for forensic examination, confirming her suspicion. A large amount of CCTV was gathered during the investigation, and the accused was the only male identified as a suspect. Garda Maguire spotted Ali on June 27th at O'Connell Street and recognised him from the video footage, wearing the same clothes. He was arrested and questioned but made no admissions, insisting it was not him on the CCTV of the Luas. Advertisement However, a DNA sample from Ali matched the sample from the skirt. Gada Maguire said it was "a thousand million times more likely that it came from the accused than any other person". Pictures of the stained skirt were handed into court. The garda agreed with defence counsel Rory Mulvaney that it was an isolated incident. The court heard Ali had no prior convictions but had been given a strike-out for obstruction of a garda after donating money to charity last year. Advertisement Prosecutor Derek Mangan outlined how the State had been ready to bring 10 witnesses to testify after Ali maintained his denials for a year. He also said the victim wished to address the court. In a powerful impact statement, she said: "My life has changed completely since that day. I feel disgusted and utterly violated." She recalled how he was heading to the concert with her friend. "We were not talking to men or wearing anything provocative. I was just going on the Luas with my friend, as I have on many different occasions. "I thought I had no reason to doubt my safety as I was in a public space on a busy Luas in broad daylight. Now, I can't make any plans without having to consider the safety of every part of the plan." "Any sense of safety I had has been taken away," she said, adding that she has been attending counselling costing €80 per session. She opened up about how preparing for the trial and the possibility of giving evidence left her "re-traumatised again and again over the last year, replaying the assault and preparing to be questioned." "As a woman, I have always been wary of drunk men, rowdy men and creepy men. Now I am wary of every man and even every person. Any sense of safety I had has been taken away. Every part of my life is different now." All her decisions are now influenced by her encounter on the Luas, which led her to change her habits. "I can't stand at a traffic light with someone waiting behind me without having to move because it makes me feel so anxious." "When I'm in a crowded room, I need to have my back to the wall if I'm standing, and if I'm sitting down, I feel the need to have my chair facing the room so that no one can pass behind me." It also significantly affected her professional and personal life. The court heard she had taken numerous weeks off work due to anxiety and stress. She avoids public transport, does not walk to work anymore, relies on taxis or lifts, and often questions her clothing choices, terrified she might attract "unwanted attention." "I have been forever changed by this assault," she stated, but concluded her statement by expressing hope that someday she could go about her daily life without overwhelming anxiety. Mr Mulvany told the judge that his client, who did not address the court and could not explain his actions, was ashamed and recognised the distress caused. Ali offered an "unreserved apology" through the barrister. The court heard Ali claimed he came to Ireland five years ago to avoid "various terrorist gangs trying to recruit young people into their organisations." Ireland Man jailed for sexual assaults at Lough Derg pilgr... Read More He was allowed to stay, trained and obtained a security guard's license. Ali worked in that role for two years and was posted at an International Protection Accommodation Services (Ipas) centre until this allegation came to light. Sentencing, Judge Malone said jurisdiction had been accepted earlier by another judge for the case to remain in the District Court, which could impose a maximum of one year's imprisonment. Taking into account the guilty plea, she suspended the final two months on condition Ali did not reoffend for two years. She praised the victim for coming forward, which will protect others from Ali, and she commended the Garda investigation.