Mourners gather in Kenmare for Michael Gaine's funeral
The funeral of 56-year year old sheep farmer Michael 'Mike' Gaine is taking place, 11 weeks after he went missing from his farm in Kenmare, Co Kerry.
Human tissue found at Mr Gaine's farm was later confirmed by gardaí to belong to Mr Gaine. His death is being treated as murder.
Mike Gaine's disappearance was initially treated as a missing person's case before it was re-classified by gardaí on 29 April when a criminal investigation began.
Human tissue found in fields and in the farmyard at Mr Gaine's farm on 16 May was later confirmed to be his.
On 19 May, gardaí arrested and questioned a man in his 50s on suspicion of Mr Gaine's murder. The man was released without charge, after he had spent 24 hours in garda custody.
Former US soldier Michael Kelley, who had been living on Mr Gaine's farm for almost three years before he moved to Tralee in April, identified himself in an interview with RTÉ News as the man who had been arrested.
Mr Kelley has denied any involvement in Mr Gaine's murder. He claims he is being framed by a subversive criminal organisation.
Mr Gaine farmed a 1,000-acre holding on the scenic Ring of Kerry, between Kenmare and Moll's Gap.
He was well known in the farming community as well as in car rallying circles.
His remains have been cremated, and his funeral will take place with requiem mass at Holy Cross Church in Kenmare.
Mike Gaine's wife Janice and his sisters, Noreen and Catherine, have thanked people for their support and understanding in what they have described as this extremely difficult time.
They say they have chosen Mr Gaine's final resting place to be private.
Yesterday, hundreds of people gathered to pay their respects to Mr Gaine's family.
Many of his friends from the rallying community spent the week restoring his Ford Escort Mark II rally car. They put an engine in it and have made it roadworthy.
The car was among a number of rally cars parked outside Finnegan's Funeral Home in Kenmare.
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Irish Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
'You won't be forgotten' - murdered farmer's friend pays tearful tribute
A close friend of murder victim Mike Gaine has paid an emotional tribute to him days after the Kerry farmer was laid to rest. Shane McCarthy, who was heavily involved with Mr Gaine in his beloved sport of rallying, released the tribute on TikTok on Monday. 'Mike, you'll never be forgotten. A true friend,' he wrote. And he put up a series of photographs of 56-year-old Mr Gaine, whose Funeral Mass took place in his native Kenmare on Saturday morning. The Funeral Mass, followed by a private laying to rest, came just over a fortnight after the partial remains of Mr Gaine – last seen in Kenmare on March 20 - were found on his 1,000 acre farm at Carrig East, some 8kms outside the town. To the song Those Were The Days by acclaimed Irish songwriter and singer Barry Kerr, Mr McCarthy published more than dozen photos of Mr Gaine. They include him taking part in car rallies. They also include Mr Gaine socialising. And there are also images of him posing at a sign for Moll's Gap - near his home outside Kenmare. Hundreds of people responded to Mr McCarthy's post throughout Monday. One said: "Best post I've seen here about this man, thanks for posting." Another said: "What a beautiful tribute. I hope Mike and all his friends and family get justice, his poor dog too. May he rest now. Thanks for sharing these pics with us." And another said: "The light of heaven to you, Mike. King of the road. RIP." Gardai are still probing the murder of Mr Gaine, but nobody has been charged. Former US Army private Michael Kelley, 53, who lived on Mr Gaine's land, was arrested and released over the murder last month. He has repeatedly denied any involvement in the murder of Mr Gaine.
Sunday World
3 days ago
- Sunday World
Intrigue surrounds US suspect in Mike Gaine case who has moved to Tralee
Michael Kelley was released without charge after being questioned for 24 hours and denies any involvement in murder of farmer Janice Gaine carries a photograph of her husband Mike at his funeral in Kenmare on Saturday. Photo: Mark Condren In the week where two probes were launched into the garda investigation of the Mike Gaine case, Michael Kelley kept a low profile in Tralee. Mr Kelley has made a complaint to Fiosrú, formerly known as the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC), about his treatment by gardaí. Meanwhile, Garda Commissioner Drew Harris confirmed Mr Gaine's killing is the subject of a peer review, saying lessons can be learned from homicides that begin as missing persons cases. Before people knew his name, many in Kerry only knew of Michael Kelley as 'the Yank'. When farmer Michael Gaine first went missing, many locals spoke of 'a Yank living on the farm', curious about what he was doing there and where he had come from. Mr Kelley's arrest last month and the subsequent public admission that he was questioned by gardaí on suspicion of murdering Mr Gaine have enhanced the intrigue surrounding him. Mr Kelley was released without charge after being questioned for 24 hours. He denies having any involvement in Mr Gaine's murder. Michael Gaine's remains were found at his farm Kenmare pauses to say farewell to Mike Gaine People in Kenmare said Mr Kelley and Mr Gaine met a few years ago. One source said Mr Gaine was out hunting and found Mr Kelley sleeping rough in a remote area outside Kenmare. Mr Gaine offered Mr Kelley some work on his farm and the use of an old house there, they said. The house provided basic living. People in the area said they believe it had no electricity and they were uncertain if it had running water. It had not been lived in for years before Mr Kelley moved in. Mr Gaine lived elsewhere, not too far from the farm. Mr Kelley remained at the old farmhouse until Mr Gaine's death and for a short time afterwards while searches were conducted to try to find the farmer. He relocated from the farm to Tralee shortly before Mr Gaine's remains were found. Intrigue followed Mr Kelley there too. He currently lives in the town centre, and while he spent some time during his early days there busking in the square, people living and working in Tralee say they have not seen him play music for a couple of weeks. Others did not realise he had been busking. He's a big man, long hair. He's distinctive, so it's hard to miss him, but he seems to keep to himself 'He's out most in the mornings. He often goes down to the supermarket and then goes back to where he's staying. We don't see much more of him than that, really,' one woman working near Mr Kelley's home said last week. She said he does not appear to talk to anyone, and few people make moves to interact with him. Janice Gaine carries a photograph of her husband Mike at his funeral in Kenmare on Saturday. Photo: Mark Condren 'He seems fine and keeps to himself,' a man said. People are curious because of how he has found himself at the centre of a murder case that has gripped the nation. One person working near Mr Kelley's new home said they noticed a delivery van two weeks ago outside the building he lives in. It was delivering beds and other furniture. 'I presume it was for the Yank, he's the only new person in there I think. Maybe that means he'll be here for a while,' they said. 'We don't see much else happening, although people are definitely interested in him. He's a big man, long hair. He's distinctive, so it's hard to miss him, but he seems to keep to himself.' Another man said: 'The only people I have seen him talking to are a couple of reporters. 'There were a few reporters here for days trying to speak to him, but he hasn't been out much. He was out one day in a pair of wellies and waterproof pants. Last week he was out in a pair of sandals talking to reporters. 'Other than that, you don't really see him.' Michael Gaine's remains were found at his farm Today's News in 90 Seconds - 08 June 2025
Irish Independent
3 days ago
- Irish Independent
Intrigue surrounds US suspect in Mike Gaine case who has moved to Tralee
Mr Kelley has made a complaint to Fiosrú, formerly known as the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC), about his treatment by gardaí. Meanwhile, Garda Commissioner Drew Harris confirmed Mr Gaine's killing is the subject of a peer review, saying lessons can be learned from homicides that begin as missing persons cases. Before people knew his name, many in Kerry only knew of Michael Kelley as 'the Yank'. When farmer Michael Gaine first went missing, many locals spoke of 'a Yank living on the farm', curious about what he was doing there and where he had come from. Mr Kelley's arrest last month and the subsequent public admission that he was questioned by gardaí on suspicion of murdering Mr Gaine have enhanced the intrigue surrounding him. Mr Kelley was released without charge after being questioned for 24 hours. He denies having any involvement in Mr Gaine's murder. People in Kenmare said Mr Kelley and Mr Gaine met a few years ago. One source said Mr Gaine was out hunting and found Mr Kelley sleeping rough in a remote area outside Kenmare. Mr Gaine offered Mr Kelley some work on his farm and the use of an old house there, they said. The house provided basic living. People in the area said they believe it had no electricity and they were uncertain if it had running water. It had not been lived in for years before Mr Kelley moved in. Mr Gaine lived elsewhere, not too far from the farm. Mr Kelley remained at the old farmhouse until Mr Gaine's death and for a short time afterwards while searches were conducted to try to find the farmer. He relocated from the farm to Tralee shortly before Mr Gaine's remains were found. Intrigue followed Mr Kelley there too. He currently lives in the town centre, and while he spent some time during his early days there busking in the square, people living and working in Tralee say they have not seen him play music for a couple of weeks. Others did not realise he had been busking. He's a big man, long hair. He's distinctive, so it's hard to miss him, but he seems to keep to himself 'He's out most in the mornings. He often goes down to the supermarket and then goes back to where he's staying. We don't see much more of him than that, really,' one woman working near Mr Kelley's home said last week. She said he does not appear to talk to anyone, and few people make moves to interact with him. The Sunday Independent's efforts to contact and speak with him last week were unsuccessful. 'He seems fine and keeps to himself,' a man said. People are curious because of how he has found himself at the centre of a murder case that has gripped the nation. One person working near Mr Kelley's new home said they noticed a delivery van two weeks ago outside the building he lives in. It was delivering beds and other furniture. 'I presume it was for the Yank, he's the only new person in there I think. Maybe that means he'll be here for a while,' they said. 'We don't see much else happening, although people are definitely interested in him. He's a big man, long hair. He's distinctive, so it's hard to miss him, but he seems to keep to himself.' Another man said: 'The only people I have seen him talking to are a couple of reporters. 'There were a few reporters here for days trying to speak to him, but he hasn't been out much. He was out one day in a pair of wellies and waterproof pants. Last week he was out in a pair of sandals talking to reporters. 'Other than that, you don't really see him.'
