Mike Gaine disappearance: specialised Defence Forces engineering team assisting in Kerry search
A specialised Defence Forces engineering team is in Kenmare to assist with the search.
The 56-year-old has been missing from Kenmare for 35 days, having been last seen buying phone credit in a local shop on March 20, after which he went missing.
Gardaí have described the case as 'unique and challenging'.
The search has been difficult and slow due to the mountainous and boggy nature of the land.
The Defence Forces has now spent almost three weeks searching the 1,000-acre farm, but nothing of any significance has been found.
Up to 50 members combined from the 12th Infantry Battalion, Limerick and the 3rd Infantry Battalion, Kilkenny arrived in Kenmare on April 1. Theu searched the farmyard and lands all the way to Molls Gap and down to the River Finnihy.
The Defence Forces said personnel from 12th Infantry Battalion and an Engineer Specialist Search Team (ESST) from 1 Brigade Engineer Group are in Kenmare to assist gardaí this week.
Garda sources said the army can get into places that other search teams cannot due to their training, and they are particularly specialised in rough and boggy terrain. They also have specialised equipment to cut back overgrowth.
High-definition drone footage has also been used in the search.
Gardaí have appealed to cycling clubs in Kerry to see if any of their members were in the vicinity of the farm on March 20.
A garda statement said: 'As part of the investigation in relation to the disappearance of Michael Gaine, Killarney gardaí would appreciate if you could please canvass with members of your club to see if they cycled the Molls Gap Road from Kenmare to Killarney on this date please.'
Cyclists with information are asked to contact Killarney gardaí on 064 667 1167.
CCTV footage of Mr Gaine was captured in the local Centra at 9.49am on March 20, which is the last recorded sighting of him.
He left the shop in his bronze-coloured Toyota RAV 4, with the registration 152KY366. The car was found in his farm yard just off the N71 at Carraig East, Kenmare.
Gardaí are examining all options, and although foul play has not been ruled out, there is no evidence of any crime.
Mr Gaine's phone and wallet was found in his car. His sudden disappearance has been described as completely 'out of character'.
Mr Gaine is described as being about 5ft 10in, with a stocky build, brown/grey hair and a bushy beard.
When last seen, he was wearing an orange woolly hat, black fleece, blue jeans and black boots.
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Irish Times
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READ MORE Mr Kelley, who moved to Kerry from the north-eastern US state of Maine about seven years ago, was arrested on May 18th last by gardaí investigating the murder of Mr Gaine (56) before being released without charge. Kerry farmer Michael Gaine who went missing in March and whose partial remains were discovered on his farmland last month. Mr Gaine's dismembered body was found the previous day in slurry spread on fields and in a slurry tank at his isolated farmyard 6km from Kenmare. He was last seen alive in a local shop in the town on March 20th. Mr Kelley lived and worked on Mr Gaine's farm. He has denied any role in his murder, claiming he is being framed by organised criminals. Gardaí investigating the murder of Mr Gaine travelled to Maine last weekend to interview Ms Snow and to search for any clues to explain what might have happened to the farmer. 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