Michael Gaine remembered as loving relative and proud Kerry man
The town of Kenmare was rocked last month when following the disappearance of Michael Gaine, human remains found on his land were confirmed to be his.
Advertisement
Mourners packed Holy Cross Church in the town on Saturday morning to pay their final respects to the 56-year-old and support his family.
His remains were brought into the church in a wood box topped with sheep's wool.
The remains of Kerry farmer Michael Gaine were found on his land. Photo: Garda/PA.
Speaking on behalf of the family ahead of the funeral service, Mr Gaine's cousin Eoghan Clarke remembered him as a 'proud Kerry man and an even prouder Kenmare man'.
He said he will be missed terribly.
Advertisement
Mr Clarke said his cousin was known for his incredible work ethic, personality and humour, and was a loving son, sibling and uncle.
He recalled his passion for rallying, farming, current affairs, holidays and music.
'As we all know, Michael was generous. Incredibly generous. He had time for everyone and would chip in to help any time and any place,' he said.
'Michael seemed to always find the time to do the work of three men on his own farm, help out friends, family and neighbours, keep up to speed on current affairs and enjoy himself.
Advertisement
Eoghan Clarke speaking at his funeral of his cousin Michael Gaine at the Holy Cross Church in Kenmare. Photo: Niall Carson/PA.
'He loved life, he always made the most of it and he truly lived every single moment. Whether you met him during lambing or while on a trip away to a car show or rally event, he always had the iconic twinkle in his eye – the 'I'm delighted to see you', 'I'm in great form', 'let's go and enjoy ourselves' glint in his eye.'
He also said that Mr Gaine's wife Janice and sisters knew his soft caring side.
'Caring and affectionate. Kind and considerate. He was not afraid to show his emotions. He was also brave, fearless and strong,' he said.
'We will all miss Michael terribly. I know I'll miss our phone calls the most, as well as that happy feeling that Michael gave you when you were with him.
Advertisement
'He was always the glue that held the Rally of the Lakes weekend together and I will always look back very fondly on our adventures to the best spectating spots in Kerry.'
Last month, a man aged in his 50s was arrested on suspicion of Mr Gaine's murder.
He was held for questioning for one day before being released without charge from Killarney garda station.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
5 hours ago
- Daily Mail
BARABARA DAVIES: How the Dutch Letby walked free... She was a paediatric nurse jailed for killing seven patients – before her conviction was sensationally quashed. So what does her story mean for Letby's appeal?
Her story is horribly familiar. A hard-working blonde nurse found guilty of killing seven of her patients, including at least three babies, and told she will spend the rest of her life behind bars. Circumstantial evidence, including disturbing handwritten notes, apparent poisonings and a damning shift pattern which showed she was on duty at the time of all of the deaths.
Daily Mail
7 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Teen killer finally confesses to murdering sister-in-law and nephews, 1 and 4, after leaving chilling letter
A New Hampshire teen confessed to murdering his sister-in-law and two young nephews weeks after penning a chilling letter that read, 'I do not belong in this family'. Eric Sweeney, 19, fatally shot Kassandra Sweeney, 25, and her sons, Benjamin, four, and Mason, one, while living at their Northfield home. He shot his victims execution style with a bullet to the head using his older brother's gun. Sweeney initially faced first-degree murder charges and was scheduled to go on trial in September, however accepted a plea deal, admitting guilt to three counts of second-degree murder and one count of falsifying physical evidence. In June 2022, just two months before the brutal killings, Sweeney took the family's truck and left behind a harrowing note. 'I do not belong in this family. All I do is steal and lie and be irresponsible,' the note read in part, ending with, 'I love you big bro and sis bye.' Prosecutors cited the message as an early indication of emotional instability and growing conflict in the home. Kassandra and her husband, Sean Sweeney, were acting as Eric's guardians and struggled to manage his behavioral issues, which included lying, stealing, and breaking household rules, Assistant Attorney General Bethany Durand said during the Friday hearing. Police were called to the home twice, once after the stolen truck incident, and again less than two weeks before the fatal shootings, when the couple reported that Sweeney was making 'strange statements'. 'The situation had deteriorated to the extent that Sean installed a lock on the door of the master bedroom in order to keep the defendant out of that room,' Durand told Merrimack County Superior Court. On the morning of the killings, prosecutors said Kassandra had been recording and sending video clips to her husband of the boys playing and laughing, but just moments later, she and the children were dead. In one clip, the toddler giggles as a family dog plays with the tail of his brother's dinosaur costume. In another, both children wave at a groundhog outside the window, saying 'Hi, Dada' to the camera. 'The family was having a normal morning, with the boys playing and laughing with Kassandra while helping her to create video clips to send to their dad,' Durand said. 'There was no indication of any unknown person, intruder or danger inside of their home.' Family members sat quietly during the hearing, some wiping away tears (pictured), neither they nor attorneys for either side gave statements after court adjourned Sweeney initially told police he had been in his basement bedroom when he heard something break upstairs, followed by a man yelling and several loud 'pops'. He claimed he went upstairs and discovered the victims on the floor, took Kassandra's phone and car keys, and left the house. He later called his brother, who contacted law enforcement, NBC10 reported. Kassandra and Mason were found in the dining room, while Benjamin was discovered in the kitchen, each had been shot once in the head. Prosecutors said Sweeney used his brother's handgun, which had been kept in a locked safe under the couple's bed. Family members sat quietly, some seen wiping away tears during the emotional hearing Friday. Sweeney will be sentenced on October 3 where he faces 35 years to life in prison for each second-degree murder charge.
The Independent
8 hours ago
- The Independent
Puerto Rico police charge a suspect in the recent killing of a US tourist
A 37-year-old man with a criminal record turned himself into police on Friday and was charged in the recent killing of a U.S. tourist who had flown to Puerto Rico for Bad Bunny's residency. Kalel Jorell Martínez Bristol faces charges including first-degree murder, according to a statement from Puerto Rico's Justice Department. Police have said the 25-year-old victim, Kevin Mares of New York, was an innocent bystander when he was struck by a bullet early Sunday while at a nightspot with friends in the seaside community of La Perla. Authorities accused Martínez of pulling out a gun and firing it while arguing with people near Mares. Two people, a brother and a sister who live in La Perla, were injured. Defense attorney Pedro Rivera told reporters that he was 'very surprised' authorities didn't file attempted murder charges, saying that casts doubt over the entire case. Martínez Bristol is being held on an $800,000 bond. The community of La Perla is located on the outskirts of Old San Juan and once served as Puerto Rico's biggest distribution point for heroin. It became popular with tourists after Puerto Rican singers Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee featured the community in their hit, 'Despacito.' But isolated violence persists. In February 2023, three tourists were stabbed after police said a person told them to stop filming inside the community. Then in April 2024, a 24-year-old tourist from Delaware was killed and his body set on fire after police said he and a friend were attacked following a drug purchase. Police said the victims were trying to take pictures of La Perla after being warned not to do so.
