Body parts found after field sprayed with slurry in shock Michael Gaine development
Traces of Michael Gaine's suspected remains were discovered on his farm the morning after slurry was spread, Extra.ie has learned.
The slurry was spread on Friday night and, what gardaí confirmed were human remains were found throughout yesterday.
The body parts were discovered in a field beside the farmyard containing a slurry tank and where the missing Kerry farmer's car had been located on March 20. A view of Mike Gaine's farm near Kenmare in Co Kerry. Pic: Niamh Walsh
The area had also been extensively searched earlier in the investigation, but nothing of evidential value was found.
Gardaí believe the farmer's body was dismembered before his remains were concealed in the tank on Mr Gaine's land close to his farmyard at Carrig East, around 6km from Kenmare, Co. Kerry.
His bronze-coloured Toyota RAV 4 was found when he vanished, just metres from the site of the now crime scene. A CCTV image of Michael Gaine. Pic: An Garda Síochána
The dramatic developments in the case come as a person of interest remains in the Kerry area and is being closely monitored by investigating gardaí.
Sources familiar with the investigation said the potential suspect has little means and is not considered to be a flight risk.
A technical and forensic examination was being conducted on the lands belonging to the popular farmer last night. DNA tests are also being carried out on the remains.
Following the breakthrough in the case, the scene at Carrig East near Moll's Gap was sealed off as a crime scene after a person known to the Gaine family came across what they believed to be human remains while working on the 1,000-acre property.
Gardaí immediately began a fresh search in this area, and the human remains were quickly recovered from the field.
The State Pathologist, Dr Sally Anne Collis, was contacted and travelled to the farmyard where she was joined by members of the Garda National Technical Bureau. She was also joined at the scene by forensic anthropologist Laureen Buckley. Pic: An Garda Síochána Missing Persons
Mr Gaine was reported missing in March, and for six weeks, his disappearance was treated by gardaí as a missing person's case. But on April 29, the investigation was reclassified as a homicide, giving gardaí increased investigative powers.
The new developments in the case come just over two weeks after Mr Gaine's wife, Janice, appealed for the public's help in solving the mystery of her husband's disappearance.
In an emotional statement, she said: 'I am Janice Gaine. I am Michael Gaine's wife. I would just like to say something about Michael, that he was my best friend, my husband.
'This whole thing has been devastating. He loved his home, he loved his farm, he loved farming. 'He loved his animals, he loved rallying.
'He had lots of friends, he was a very popular guy, and his disappearance is totally out of character. Well, we knew that from day one. Pic: An Garda Siochana
'If there is anybody that has any information about Michael, do please come forward and talk to the gardaí. We just want Michael to come home.
She added: 'We want to know what happened to him because if we can't find Michael, I just don't know what I am going to do and what his family, his sister Noreen… I just want Michael to come home.'
Mr Gaine's sister, Noreen O'Regan, last month said her family was 'absolutely devastated'.
'Our lives are shattered,' she said at the time. 'We want answers. We love Michael, we want him back.'
Mr Gaine was reported missing from his home near Kenmare on Friday, March 21. Despite significant early searches, no trace of the farmer was found. A view of Mike Gaine's farm near Kenmare in Co Kerry. Pic: Niamh Walsh
CCTV footage showed him leaving the Centra store in Kenmare on March 20 after purchasing phone credit and a lunch roll. He told staff at the shop he would 'see you later'.
Images of the distinctive-looking 56-year-old – standing at 5ft 10in with a stocky build, brown-grey hair, and a bushy beard and wearing an orange woolly hat – were circulated widely and in local and national media.
However, despite extensive searches by gardaí, the Army, the Civil Defence, and volunteers, no trace of the farmer was found until this weekend. Hundreds of witness statements have been taken as part of the investigation.
Around 2,200 hours of CCTV and dash camera footage have also been recovered. Mart owner and local councillor Dan McCarthy, and also a close friend of Mr Gaine, said the searches were on a scale he had never seen before.
'Since I've been alive, it's been the biggest mystery in a lifetime around here – that a man can just be missing over such a short space of time and there's no trace of him.'
Speaking at the scene of the search yesterday, Minister of State and Kerry TD Michael Healy-Rae, who knew Mr Gaine personally, described the development as 'sad but welcome news'.
He urged anyone with relevant information to come forward. 'You'd be hoping this is the answer to the questions everyone has been asking,' Mr Healy-Rae said.
'This is so sad and so upsetting. But in an unusual way, this is welcome news because everybody wants this to come to a conclusion.'
Gardaí last night said that detectives at Killarney Garda Station 'continue to investigate the disappearance and homicide of Michael Gaine'.
A spokesperson said in a statement: 'As part of the investigation, operations resumed at lands in Carrig East, Kenmare, Co. Kerry on Friday evening, 16th May 2025, and a crime scene has now been declared.
'The Garda Technical Bureau and the Office of the State Pathologist have been requested to attend the scene.
'Pending examinations by both the Garda Technical Bureau and the State Pathologist, An Garda Síochána is not in a position to provide further information at this time. The investigation is ongoing and further updates will follow.'
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