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Sunday World
21-05-2025
- Sunday World
Gardaí suspect chainsaw was used to dismember Mike Gaine's body after murder
Power tools kept in farmyard in Kenmare, Co Kerry, being examined by investigators Partial human remains, believed to be those of the missing farmer, were found on Friday in a field where slurry was spread on Mr Gaine's farm. The farmer owned at least three chainsaws that were kept on the property. It is understood power tools located on the farm are being examined by gardaí. The focus of the forensic investigation is now on how the body may have been dismembered, comparing saw or other blade cuts and examining an agitator in the slurry pit. Read more The results will hopefully provide the cause of death and how long the dismembered remains were in the slurry tank before being discovered. It is hoped the results will also provide a precise timeline. Such was the dismemberment of the remains and the advanced stage of decomposition, it is understood it will be several days before final reports are available to gardaí from state pathologist Dr SallyAnne Collis and forensic anthropologist Dr Laureen Buckley. Mike Gaine One source said the work of the medical and forensic experts will be 'very challenging'. Gardaí will also consult with microbiology and chemical experts. It comes after a man in his 50s who was arrested on suspicion of the farmer's murder was released without charge on Monday night. The man, who was arrested on Sunday, was questioned for the maximum period of 24 hours. He was detained at Killarney garda station under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act. His legal representative, solicitor Patrick Mann, declined to comment on his client's detention, questioning or release when contacted by the Irish Independent . Mr Gaine, a 56-year-old sheep farmer with land near Kenmare, Co Kerry, was reported missing from his home more than eight weeks ago. His farm at Carraig East was declared a crime scene at the weekend after human remains were discovered. A local contractor was spreading the slurry drawn from a tank in the farmyard on Friday evening when the spraying pipe became blocked. When they went to clear it, they discovered human remains and notified gardaí. Gardaí have insisted that both slurry tanks on the farm were thoroughly searched for several days and they were one of the first areas searched. The majority of material was drained from both tanks at the time and nothing of evidential value was found. All underground tanks on the farm are now being fully drained and examined with the assistance of members from the Garda Water Unit. Officers searching Mike Gaine's farm There has also been a lot of focus on the tanker used to spread the slurry last Friday. Yesterday, during the fourth day of a garda technical examination of Mr Gaine's farm, officers were assisted by the Defence Forces and the Kerry Fire and Rescue Service. A number of excavators and diggers were at the scene. The search of the farm is expected to continue for several days. Mr Gaine's remains were removed in a hearse on Sunday evening for tests. A post-mortem examination was due to take place at University Hospital Kerry in Tralee, though it was not immediately clear if a cause of death would be established because of the condition of the remains. Mr Gaine was last seen on Thursday, March 20, in Kenmare. On April, almost six weeks after Mr Gaine disappeared, the missing-person case was upgraded to a homicide investigation. Mr Gaine's wife Janice and his sister Noreen O'Regan issued a plea at that time, with Ms Gaine appealing for anyone with information to come forward in a video released by gardaí. In the video, Ms Gaine said Mr Gaine was her 'best friend, my husband' and 'this whole thing has been devastating'. 'His disappearance is totally out of character and we knew that from day one,' she said. 'We just want Michael to come home, we want [to] know what happened to him,' she said. Mr Gaine's sister described him as a 'loving husband, brother, uncle'. 'We're devastated. Our lives are shattered,' she said. 'We want answers. We love Michael, we want him back.' Over the past eight weeks, several appeals have been issued and extensive searches carried out. Around 2,200 hours of CCTV and dashcam footage have been examined and 130 witness statements were taken by the end of last month.
Irish Examiner
19-05-2025
- Irish Examiner
Recovery of body parts from Michael Gaine's farm leads to arrest in murder investigation
A dramatic 24 hours in the homicide investigation into missing farmer Michael Gaine saw the arrest of a man on suspicion of murder and the recovery of human body parts at his Kerry farm. Detectives were last night questioning a man, aged in his 50s, after arresting him on suspicion of murder on Sunday afternoon. The development came after intense garda activity over the weekend at a site on Mr Gaine's 1,000-acre farm, sparked by the shock discovery of human tissue from a slurry spreader on Friday. Garda HQ announced yesterday that an arrest had been made and, shortly after, at about 5.20pm, a hearse carrying a coffin arrived at the farm, indicating that significant human body parts had been found. A curate arrived at the scene and went into the cattle barn at the centre of the examination. Men could be seen coming and going, their heads bowed and some wiping their faces. At about 5.45pm, a coffin was brought out from the barn and placed carefully into the back of the hearse. A short while later, the hearse, escorted by a garda car, pulled up the drive and headed in the direction of Moll's Gap, towards University Hospital Kerry in Tralee for an autopsy. The grim scenes followed extensive examinations on Saturday and yesterday, with the specialist Garda Water Unit yesterday joining the Garda Technical Unit in examining a slurry tank, a spreader, and a large agitator, used to mix and pump slurry. The decision to conduct the arrest so quickly came as a surprise but sources stressed this would not have been done without reasonable grounds and/or pressing operational reasons. A coffin containing remains is carried out of the cattle shed at the farm of Michael Gaine in Kerry. Picture Neil Michael The garda statement said: 'This afternoon, Sunday, May 18, a male [aged in his 50s] has been arrested on suspicion of murder. 'The male is being detained under the provisions of Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 at a garda station in Kerry division. An Garda Síochána continues to carry out searches and technical examinations at lands at Carrig East, Kenmare, Co Kerry.' It said the family of Mr Gaine had been informed of the arrest and that the garda family liaison officer was providing support. Mr Gaine, aged 56, went missing on March 21, with the investigation upgraded to homicide on April 29. His wife Janice and his sister Noreen made an emotional plea for information the following day. Before the arrest, it was thought that gardaí had identified a shortlist of potential male suspects. The man arrested can be held for a maximum of 24 hours, excluding sleep breaks. During this period, he will be subject to a number of interviews, where evidence gathered to date will be put before him. Investigators will be in contact with the office of the DPP to determine if there is sufficient evidence to press charges or if the person should be released to allow for further investigations and the preparation of a file for submission to the office. Initial discovery Some three dozen gardaí were gathered at the scene on Sunday after the discovery of suspected human tissue on Friday. The grim find came after a worker operating a slurry spreader spotted unusual material when trying to clear a blockage in the machine. Other potential samples of tissue were subsequently identified across a number of fields where the slurry had been spread. Gardaí confirmed on Saturday evening that tests conducted by State pathologist Sally Anne Collis and forensic anthropologist Laureen Buckley showed the tissue was human. DNA is being extracted from a number of tissue samples to build a DNA profile, which will be then compared to a reference sample of Mr Gaine to see if they match. Sources said that, in order to build a profile, scientists need a sufficient amount of DNA from samples and enough DNA that has not been degraded by environmental factors, such as contaminated, or even toxic, material in a slurry tank. Sources said that if the technical process of testing is expedited, it could still take a week to get preliminary results back but also stressed that it could be longer. The discovery yesterday of more significant human remains will assist and, following the autopsy, should also help in determining the cause of death. Throughout Sunday, gardaí lifted slatted slabs covering an underground slurry tank in the large slatted-unit cattle shed in the yard, and sifted through material from the tank. An excavator assisted in the procedure. The slurry tank was thought to have been emptied during an initial examination towards the end of March but may have been filled since. Sources have said that if human tissue, and the further remains discovered Sunday, come from the tank, there could be two possibilities — that the tank may not have been fully emptied and checked the first time, or that human remains were put into it after the first examination. The Garda Water Unit has the necessary expertise and equipment to search and gather material from hazardous environments, including noxious liquids and solids in slurry tanks and spreaders. Members of the unit assisted in examining the slurry spreader and a large agitator, used to mix and pump the slurry.
Belfast Telegraph
30-04-2025
- Belfast Telegraph
Wife of missing farmer says she just wants him to come home
Michael Gaine, 56, was reported missing from his home near Kenmare on Friday March 21. Gardai said this week their probe into his disappearance had been upgraded to a homocide investigation. His wife Janice Gaine and sister Noreen O'Regan have recorded a video statement, issued through the gardai. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Ms Gaine said: '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, we knew that from day one.' She added: 'If there is anybody that has any information about Michael, do please come forward and talk to the gardai. 'We just want Michael to come home. We want to know what happened to him because if we can't find Michael I just don't know what I'm going to do. 'I just want Michael to come home.' His sister Ms O'Regan said he was 'a loving husband, brother, and uncle'. She added: 'His nieces and nephews loved him. We are absolutely heartbroken at what has happened. We are devastated, our lives are shattered. 'We want answers. We love Michael, we want him back. 'I'm appealing to anyone with any information about what happened to Michael. 'He went to the farm on March 20, it was his routine to check his animals, but he never returned home. We are devastated and we want him back.' In the five weeks since his disappearance, gardai said they had gathered around 2,200 hours of CCTV and dashcam footage, taken nearly 130 witness statements and carried out more than 320 formal jobs/inquiries. Irish troops and the Garda Water Unit were also involved in search efforts in recent weeks, and checkpoints were held a week after his disappearance to help gather information that would aid the investigation. A gardai statement said: 'Extensive searches utilising specialist equipment by state and other agencies have been carried out over the past five weeks which have failed to locate Michael. 'The disappearance is completely out of character and entirely at odds with Michael's pattern of behaviour established by the investigation to date. 'Based on the entirety of the information available to the investigation team at Killarney Garda station on Tuesday April 29 2025 An Garda Siochana reclassified the missing person investigation as a homicide investigation. 'A formal criminal investigation has now commenced and gardai are seeking information from any person who can assist us in bringing Michael back to his family. 'An Garda Siochana continues to keep Michael's family fully informed on the status of the investigation and supported through a family liaison officer, as they come to terms with this update.'
Belfast Telegraph
29-04-2025
- Belfast Telegraph
Probe into missing Kerry farmer upgraded to homicide investigation
Gardai said there is a person or people who know what happened to Michael 'Mike' Gaine more than five weeks ago. Mr Gaine, 56, was reported missing from his home near Kenmare on Friday March 21. He was last seen the previous day in Kenmare town buying phone credit in the Centra shop at 9.48am. In the five weeks since his disappearance, Gardai said they had gathered around 2,200 hours of CCTV and dashcam footage, taken nearly 130 witness statements and carried out over 320 formal jobs/inquiries. Irish troops and the Garda Water Unit were also involved in search efforts in recent weeks, and checkpoints were held a week after his disappearance to help gather information that would aid the investigation. 'Based on the entirety of the information available to the investigation team at Killarney Garda station, An Garda Siochana can confirm today Tuesday, April 29 2025 that this missing person investigation has now been reclassified as a homicide investigation, and a formal criminal investigation has now commenced,' Gardai said in a statement. Mr Gaine's family are being kept 'fully informed' and have been updated on the announcement of a homicide investigation, gardai said. Despite carrying out 'extensive' inquiries, Mr Gaine's remains have not been recovered. 'Gardai are seeking information from anyone who can assist us in bringing Michael back to his family. 'There are person or persons who know what happened on the 20th of March 2025.' Anyone with information they have not yet been able to share with gardai, or did not mention in previous garda statements, is being asked to contact the Garda Investigation Team. Gardai said they would treat any information received in the strictest confidence. The Garda Investigation Team can be contacted at Killarney Garda Station on 064 667 1160, the Garda Confidential Line at 1800 666 111, or people can speak to a member of their local Garda station.
The Journal
26-04-2025
- Sport
- The Journal
School pays tribute to 'kind' Leaving Cert student who died after car entered river in Co Tipperary
TRIBUTES HAVE BEEN paid to Bronagh English, the Leaving Cert student who died after the car she was driving entered the water in Co Tipperary on Thursday night. The 18-year-old was fatally injured in the incident, which occurred at Kilmoyler in Cahir. Gardaí said that some time after 10pm on Thursday, a car left the road at Kilaldry Bridge and entered the River Aherlow. Bronagh's body was recovered from the water on Friday morning by members of the Garda Water Unit. A post mortem examination is due to take place. Rockwell College in Cashel, where Bronagh went to school, has paid tribute to the sixth year student in a statement on social media. The Rockwell College community mourns the loss of our 6th Year student and friend, Bronagh English. She was kind, vibrant and talented, and will be dearly missed. Please keep her family and friends in your prayers. Rest in peace, Bronagh. — Rockwell College (@rockwellcollege) April 26, 2025 'She was kind, vibrant and talented, and will be dearly missed,' the school said. 'Please keep her family and friends in your prayers. Rest in peace, Bronagh.' Moyle Rovers Ladies Football Club in Monroe, Co Tipperary has also paid tribute to the teenager. 'We are all very shocked and deeply saddened by the news of the death of Brónagh English in a car accident last night,' the club said in a statement. Moyle Rovers said Bronagh played for the club for a short time at a young age, adding that her siblings have also been players and her family have been 'great supporters over many years'. 'As we mourn the very sad passing of a talented young life and former player our sympathies go out to Brónagh's family and we will do all we can to help and support them in whatever way we can,' it continued. Advertisement 'May Brónagh rest in peace and our thoughts and prayers to her heartbroken family.' The club added that all Ladies Football activities in Monroe are suspended for the weekend as a mark of respect. Speaking on RTÉ Radio yesterday, Fine Gael councillor John Fitzgerald, who knew Bronagh, described her loss as 'a terrible tragedy'. He said the teenager was 'a beautiful girl, a wonderful person, a really good person'. 'I knew her well,' he said, sounding audibly distraught. 'My family and all the community here in Clonmel are in shock, absolute shock. Despair, really, that's the only way to describe it'. Gardaí are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed the incident or been in the Kilmoyler to contact them. Any road users who may have camera footage (including dash-cam) and were travelling on the L3101 or in the Kilmoyler area between 10pm and midnight last night are asked to make this available to investigating gardaí. Anyone with information can contact Cahir Garda Station on 052 7445630 the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 or any Garda Station. There were a number of fatal road traffic collisions across the island in the space of 24 hours. A woman in her 50s died after the car she was driving collided with a truck on the main N25 road near Gaulstown in Glenmore, Co Kilkenny yesterday. The woman was pronounced dead at the scene. Her body has been taken to the mortuary where a post mortem examination is due to take place. Separately, a woman in her 60s died following a collision involving a lorry and two cars on the Portaferry Road in Newtownards, Co Down. Police in Northern Ireland said the woman, who was a passenger in one of the cars, had died at the scene. Eight other people – three men, two women and three children – were taken to hospital for treatment. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
