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Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
'Much-loved' farmer Michael Gaine was 'kind and strong'
Mourners attending the funeral Mass of a County Kerry farmer, whose death is the subject of a murder inquiry, have heard he was a kind, strong man, who loved people, farming and animals. Michael Gaine, 56, had been missing for more than eight weeks when remains found on his farm, near Kenmare, were identified.. He was initially treated as a missing persons case before it was upgraded to a homicide. On Saturday the congregation was told by parish priest Fr George Hayes that the funeral was about recovering his dignity, as reported by Irish broadcaster RTÉ. "There were many questions but sometimes in life there were no answers," said Fr George Hayes. He said that the "dignity of Michael's life, and not the manner of Michael's death, that will abide in our hearts". Michael was someone who "loved much and was much loved," Fr Hayes said. In a tribute to his cousin, Eoghan Clarke, who spoke on behalf of the family said Mr Gaine was known for his "incredible work ethic, personality and humour, and was a loving son, sibling and uncle". He said Mr Gaine's "incredible" work ethic had been instilled in him by his parents. He said he and his wife Janice had a "truly beautiful relationship" and that they loved to be together, "from simple trips to the cinema in Killarney, visits to new restaurants, walks in the National Park, and adventurous holidays abroad". "Janice and Michael's sisters will know better than anyone that Michael had a soft, caring side. In Janice's own words, Michael was a true man. He was soft and loving, caring and affectionate, kind and considerate," said. "He was not afraid to show his emotions. He was also brave, fearless and strong. He was strong mentally and, as anyone who ever tried to follow him up the mountain in wellies will know, he was strong physically too". Mourners heard Mr Gaine was a keen rally driver. Over the past week his rallying friends had fixed up the Ford Escort Mark II he used to race and it was used to transport his ashes. Mr Gaine, a sheep and cattle farmer, was reported missing from his home near Kenmare on 21 March. He was last seen in the County Kerry town the previous day. He lived in the remote Carrig East area, close to the Molls Gap beauty spot, along the renowned Ring of Kerry. According to RTÉ, in-depth investigations by gardaí ruled out "innocent" explanations, such as a medical event, an accident, or that he left the area voluntarily. A missing person's investigation operates on the basis of consent, but when gardaí announced the re-classification of their investigation, it meant the range of options in front of the investigation team significantly increased. They could then get search warrants, clear areas of interest and seize and examine certain items like phones and laptops. Human tissue found in fields and in the farmyard at Mr Gaine's farm on 16 May was later confirmed to be his. His death is being treated as murder. A man in his 50s, who was arrested last Sunday on suspicion of Mr Gaine's murder, was later released without charge. He has denied any involvement in the farmer's disappearance. Human remains identified as missing farmer Michael Gaine
RTÉ News
2 days ago
- RTÉ News
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.
RTÉ News
2 days ago
- RTÉ News
Crowds turn out in Kenmare to pay respects to Gaine family
Hundreds of people have been gathering in Kenmare, Co Kerry, to pay their respects to the family of Mike Gaine. The 56-year-old sheep farmer went missing from his farm 6km north of the town on 20 March. Eight weeks later, remains found on his land were subsequently confirmed by gardaí to be human tissue which belonged to him. More human tissue was found during a search of his farmyard and adjoining fields in the days that followed. The garda investigation into Mike Gaine's disappearance was initially treated as a missing person's case. However, on 30 April gardaí announced that the investigation had been reclassified. His death is now being treated as murder. 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. He was a former participant in the Rally of the Lakes in Killarney and was a member of Killarney and District Motor Club. Many of his friends from rallying spent the week restoring his Ford Escort Mark II rally car. They put an engine in it and have made it roadworthy. The car is among a number of rally cars parked outside Finnegan's Funeral Home in Kenmare. Mike Gaine's Fiat tractor is also parked close by, symbolising his love of farming. Mourners passed both as they gathered to sympathise this evening with Mr Gaine's wife, Janice, his sisters, Noreen and Catherine, and with other family members. Mr Gaine's funeral mass will take place at Holy Cross Church in Kenmare tomorrow morning, after which an urn containing his ashes will be placed in his rally car and driven in a procession around the town. His family say the resting place for his ashes will be kept private. Fiosrú, the Office of the Police Ombudsman, has said it cannot comment on reports that Michael Kelley made a formal complaint to the ombudsman about his treatment by gardaí. Fiosrú was formerly know as GSOC. It is the independent statutory office dealing with complaints about gardaí. In a statement, Fiosrú said it could not comment on the reports. "Fiosrú does not confirm or deny the existence of complaints made by or against individuals," a spokesman said. "This is to protect the investigative process and the rights both of complainants, and those complained against. Fiosrú is not in a position to comment further."
