Relative of man arrested over Mike Gaine's killing says ‘he's not capable of murder'

Sunday World

2 days ago

Michael Kelley was described as a 'gentle lion' and 'highly intelligent'
A family member of a man arrested over the murder of Kerry farmer Mike Gaine has said they cannot conceive that he could be capable of murder.
Michael Kelley (53), from Maine in the United States, has told a number of news organisations that he was arrested and questioned as part of the investigation, but said he is being framed by others involved in the killing.
A family member of Mr Kelley residing in the US told the Sunday World: 'The Michael I knew was not capable of murder, but we haven't spoken in years.'
They described him as a 'gentle lion', and said he is 'highly intelligent' and is 'always generous with people in need'.
Separately, court documents obtained by the Sunday World regarding a case in the US several years ago detail how a judge said Mr Kelley has 'questionable ability' to 'determine fact from fiction'.
Mr Kelley was arrested on May 18 over the murder of 56-year-old Mr Gaine. He was questioned for 24 hours before being released without charge.
In a series of interviews, the American, who says he is a former US soldier, has denied any involvement in the murder of Mr Gaine.
Michael Kelley was arrested and released without charge. Photo: Domnick Walsh
Mike Gaine: Chief suspect insists he had nothing to do with Kerry farmer's death
Until recently, Mr Kelley lived for around three years on Mr Gaine's farm and was employed as a labourer, assisting with physical tasks on the extensive south Kerry farm, which spans about 1,000 acres.
It is understood that gardaí are exploring a number of potential theories as they look for a motive in the case.
In the early days of the investigation, it is understood that gardaí profiled a number of people who knew Mr Gaine well. A number of individuals were quickly ruled out of the probe.
A source said that there have been 'no major developments' in the case in the past week.
Mr Kelley is currently free to leave the country, having been released without charge following his arrest on suspicion of murder.
However, it's understood that he doesn't have a passport at present. The 53-year-old previously sought asylum in Ireland.
In an interview with RTÉ, Mr Kelley spoke of his relationship with Mr Gaine.
'We worked hand and glove. Doing the sheep or whatever, dosing them and stuff. I had already handled animals. I was fixing cars and tractors for him [Gaine],' he said.
​Mr Kelley said he last saw Mr Gaine at 'around 10am' on March 20 when they met in the farmyard.
Michael Kelley was arrested and released without charge. Photo: Domnick Walsh
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He said Mr Gaine had indicated to him that he was planning to meet somebody that day, before giving Mr Kelley a list of chores to complete.
Mr Kelley said he then returned to the old farmhouse to make coffee, adding that was the last time he saw Mr Gaine.
'Around 10am. He was as normal as ever. He was doing his chores,' Mr Kelley told RTÉ. 'Redistributing the silage and things. Just ordinary chores. He said 'look after the chores for me. I'm just going to meet a man. I'll be back later'.
'He didn't come back that night. He said he would be back. Then they came looking for him at about 10am the following morning.'
Mr Gaine went missing on March 20. His car, which contained a number of personal items, was found on the farm at Carrig East, situated between the town of Kenmare and Moll's Gap.
Mike Gaine's remains were found on his farm
Mr Kelley told RTÉ: 'I wouldn't describe us as great friends, but we got on. Our relationship was transactional. He gave me accommodation, food and paid me. In return I worked on his farm.
'We had a good working relationship, a civil relationship. We got on and understood one another.
'We are both farmers. We are getting along because we are grown men and we have work to do.
'We were brothers of the land, around the same age, with similar interests, and I liked that sense of brotherhood.'
A musician who plays the flute and tin whistle, Mr Kelley was recently seen busking in Tralee, where he has been pictured and has given interviews.
In an effort to establish Mr Gaine's whereabouts, an extensive search of his farm, surrounding valleys and lakes was initiated.
On April 29, Mr Gaine's disappearance was upgraded by gardaí from a missing person case to a homicide investigation.
Human remains were discovered on Mr Gaine's farm on May 16, when one of his nephews and a neighbour were spreading slurry on fields. The farm was immediately sealed off and declared a crime scene.
Further human remains are believed to have been found in a slurry spreader and in a slurry tank on the farm in the following days.
Gardaí say DNA tests have since confirmed that the remains are those of Mr Gaine.
A specialist examination of the slurry tank on Mr Gaine's hillside farmyard days after he disappeared did not uncover his dismembered remains. Questions are now being asked as to how they went undetected by gardaí.
However, sources have said that Mr Gaine's remains had been dismembered to such an extent that the small pieces of his body somehow went unnoticed during a specialist search of the slurry tank by gardaí and members of Kerry County Fire Services on March 24.