Latest news with #MikeGaine
Sunday World
3 days ago
- Sunday World
Funeral arrangements announced for Kerry farmer Mike Gaine
Funeral arrangements have now been published for the Mr Gaine, who it is now believed was murdered on his farm in Kerry The community in Kenmare will gather later this week to say their final farewell to the hugely popular Kerry farmer Mike Gaine. Funeral arrangements have now been published for the Mr Gaine, who it is now believed was murdered on his farm in Kerry. His remains were found in recent weeks and following the conclusion of the post mortem his body has now been returned to his family to allow them to bury the beloved husband, brother and uncle. Condolences have been pouring since the funeral arrangements were released this morning with many offering their support tot he family at this difficult time and remembering Mike as the wonderful man he was. 'Michael's presence, his light, and the way he touched those around him will never be forgotten,' said one online tribute. " Another stated that they hoped the funeral will bring closure to the family after a very difficult three months. Mr Gaine will repose at Finnegan's Funeral Home in Kenmare next Friday, June 6 from 2pm with Rosary at 7pm. His funeral mass will take place at Holy Cross Church in Kenmare at 10.30am on Saturday, June 7. He will arrive at the church at 9.30am. His final resting place is to be kept private. Mr Gaine is sadly missed by his wife Janice and sisters Noreen and Catherine as well as nieces Emma and Rachael and nephews Jamie and Mark and brother-in-law Sean. He is also missed by his aunt Noreen and by his many friends including DJ and Shane as well as his loyal friends. in the farming and rallying community, his death notice reads. The late Mike Gaine News in 90 Seconds - June 1st The family have asked for family flowers only with donations in lieu of flowers to Kerry Mountain Rescue and SARDA (Search and Rescue Dog Association). Both these charities played a significant role in the search for Mr Gaine after he was first reported missing on March 21. An extensive search took place over six weeks involving not only a huge community effort but also many searches agencies but no trace of the farmer was found. The missing person's case was officially upgraded to homicide just over a month ago. Tragically his partial remains were found almost two weeks ago when his nephew and close friend were spreading slurry. Forensics later confirmed the partial remains as those of Mr Gaine. The farm was immediately closed off and declared a crime scene. Specialised garda units and the Defence Forces have spent the past two weeks on the farm just outside Kenmare searching for evidence in the ongoing murder investigation. A man was arrested and released without charge in the case. A huge crowd is expected to attend his funeral given the high-esteem he was held in the community and the tragedy of his death.
Irish Times
5 days ago
- General
- Irish Times
Who is Michael Kelley, the man questioned over the murder of Michael Gaine?
It is a drizzly morning in Tralee and few people seem to be paying much attention to the tall, bearded man in rain gear. He is making his way across The Square in the Co Kerry town, just another person going about their business on another grey Irish day. The man is Michael Kelley (53), a US army veteran from Maine, a northeastern state, but now resident in Tralee. He is, to date, the only man to have been questioned about the murder of Kerry farmer Mike Gaine (56) whose dismembered remains were found two weeks ago at his farm outside Kenmare, two months after he went missing. READ MORE Kelley, standing 6ft tall and lean and muscular, is firm but polite when approached by The Irish Times and other media, saying he will not be doing any other interviews beyond what he has told The Irish Daily Mirror some days earlier. He confirms that his reported comments are correct and that he was arrested by gardaí for questioning about Gaine's murder. He denied any involvement in the killing during nine interviews over 24 hours of questioning by gardaí. [ American man Michael Kelley (53) confirms he was suspect arrested for questioning about Michael Gaine Opens in new window ] Kelley has alleged he is being framed for the crime by criminals. 'There may be elements that want to string me up – people who have an interest in organised crime – people who are involved in organised crime,' he has said. He is calm and relaxed. He says he has been playing traditional Irish music, having been photographed playing the flute with a local busker some days earlier. Michael Kelley busking on the streets of Tralee, Co Kerry. Photograph: Domnick Walsh/Eye Focus As he agrees to pose for a photograph, he jokes that he will have to 'start charging $10 for pictures'. Little is known about Kelley, who has become the suspect in an investigation into Gaine's gruesome murder. Kelley, whose ancestors are understood to be from east Galway, grew up in a rural part of the US, outside the small village of Swanville, which has a population of about 1,500 and is in Waldo County in central Maine, about a two-hour drive northeast of Portland, the state's capital and largest city. He was born on July 27th, 1971, the second child born to New Yorkers Patrick and Janice Kelley, who moved to Maine in 1967 with Janice's son, Damon, from her first marriage. The family settled on a five-acre holding at Upper Oak Hill Road in Swanville. [ Michael Gaine case: Investigators believe most human remains at farm have been recovered Opens in new window ] Janice Kelley had lived in the East Village in New York with her first husband and she stayed there after their marriage ended, becoming acquainted with many of the folk musicians on the coffee shop circuit and some of the leading figures in the 1960s counterculture scene before they became famous. She participated in the famous 1963 March on Washington, where she heard Martin Luther King make his famous 'I Have a Dream' speech. This was to inform her political thinking in later life, when she became an ardent Democrat strongly opposed to Republican Donald Trump. Michael Kelley and his mother Janice in 2018 posted on Facebook She and her husband set up a small business where she would design houses and he, a skilled carpenter, would build them. She taught her children an appreciation of nature and growing their own food. Janice and Patrick Kelley divorced in 1974, and she moved with the children to Washington, Maine, but returned to Swanville in 1981, where she opened a second-hand store where people could buy music and jewellery as well as rock crystals and gemstones from around the world. What role or influence Janice Kelley's politics and philosophy had on her son Michael is unclear, but in 1991, aged just 19, he found himself in the US army on a military base in Germany, where, when not on sentry duty, he watched as the first Gulf war unfolded in Kuwait and Iraq. Kelley told the Irish Daily Mirror he never killed anyone when in the army and became a conscientious objector when he saw the horror of the 'Highway of Death', when hundreds of Iraqi troops were killed at night in February 1991 by American war planes as they retreated from Kuwait. What Kelley did after he quit the US army is unclear. He seems to have kept a low profile for more than a decade. On April 6th, 2006, he married Karen Harden in Northport, Maine. The couple divorced on June 23rd, 2014. On December 22nd, 2009, he found himself the subject of critical comments from Judge Donald G Alexander of the Maine Supreme Judicial Court after he appealed a decision by Judge Michael Westcott of Maine District Court over the custody of his two daughters. The judge's criticisms are outlined in a detailed eight-page published judgment . Michael Gaine, whose remains were found earlier this month, more than two months after the 56-year-old sheep farmer was last spotted in a supermarket in Kenmare Kelley had been in a romantic relationship with a woman called Alicia Snow, and they had two daughters. After they separated Kelley brought a parental-rights action over his right of access to the children, who were living with their mother, a qualified nurse. Initially the relationship between the separated couple was cordial but Kelley later claimed that Snow had breached the court order, which ruled that the children could live with her, when she took them on a visit out of state to Chicago, Illinois, to their grandfather without Kelley's consent. Judge Westcott found for Snow in the initial hearing. Kelley appealed it to the state supreme court, where he represented himself. He called his wife, Karen, as a witness. After hearing testimony from both sides, including Snow and her father, Judge Alexander affirmed the earlier court order. He said that Kelley's allegations and fears that Snow intended to move out of the state with the children were 'unfounded'. He concluded that Kelley's ability to determine fact from fiction was 'questionable', and that both Kelley's testimony and that of his wife was 'untrustworthy'. Undated photograph of Michael Kelley posted in October 2017 on the Facebook page of a relative. He said Kelley was an inflexible parent 'who makes false allegations that Snow is a witch and that she practises witchcraft on the children', while he also found that Kelley refused 'to take responsibility for his role in this conflict'. It suited Kelley to be living off the grid as he wanted to be under the radar — A local in Kenmare Judge Alexander agreed with Judge Westcott when he 'specifically stated why it did not find the testimony of Kelley and wife to be credible, including the unsupported allegations that Snow is casting spells on the children and an unwillingness to take responsibility for conflicts.' Attempts by The Irish Times to contact Alicia Snow and her attorney Thomas F Shehan proved unsuccessful, but Kelley did confirm to the Irish Daily Mirror that he had lost custody of his children, now adults with whom he is in contact, after falsely claiming their mother was a witch. Kelley says he arrived in Ireland seven years ago. From inquiries by The Irish Times, it appears he first surfaced in Kenmare about six years ago, squatting on a boat while working for a man harvesting kelp in Kenmare Bay. Garda forensics specialists at Michael Gaine's farm at Carrig East near Kenmare where partial human remains were discovered. Photograph: Domnick Walsh/Eye Focus When that job ended, he reportedly lived in a shed in Templenoe, a village about eight kilometres along the Ring of Kerry route west of Kenmare, before taking up residence three km away in Scully's Wood near Dromquinna. There, he lived in a tent and reportedly used survivalist skills to live off wildlife. It was while he was there that he met Mike Gaine. 'Mike was out shooting deer with a friend in Scully's Wood when they came across Kelley,' says one local. 'It was around 2022 and Mike offered him the use of his old, abandoned family farmhouse at Carrig East in return for doing jobs around the farm and Kelley agreed.' Gaine's farm at Carrig East is about seven kilometres from Kenmare, near Moll's Gap, the scenic spot popular with tourists. 'Kelley used to earn his keep working for Mike, feeding the animals and such like. They used to go hunting together – it was a very informal, loose arrangement, there was no lease, no contract – it suited Kelley to be living off the grid as he wanted to be under the radar,' says the local. 'There was no electricity in the farmhouse, but that didn't seem to bother him – he was rarely in town – Mike used to drive him every so often in to Aldi or Lidl to do his shopping, but beyond that he never hung around, never went into pubs. 'He was just this very reclusive American drifter.' Kelley told the Irish Daily Mirror that he applied for asylum when he first arrived in Ireland but had been refused. Garda sources confirmed he was served with deportation order four weeks ago, though he remains living in Tralee. 'I've asked for an ombudsman to review my asylum but that's gone nowhere,' he said. 'I'm not surprised – I may have a claim to Irish citizenship based on the standing laws of this country based on my ancestry ... [but] I don't see that they are going to deport me in the middle of this case.'
Sunday World
25-05-2025
- Sunday World
Gardaí confirm remains found on Kerry farm identified as Mike Gaine
A garda spokesperson said they continue to appeal to the public for assistance in this investigation Gardaí have confirmed that the remains found on a Kerry farm are that of missing man Mike Gaine. A garda spokesperson said they continue to appeal to the public for assistance in this investigation. 'Human remains found at farmland at Carrig East, Kenmare have been identified as being the remains of Michael Gaine,' they said. 'The Garda investigation team can be contacted at Killarney Garda Station on 064 667 1160, the Garda Confidential Line at 1800 666 111, or speak with any member of An Garda Síochána.' It comes as the Sunday Independent revealed that the man arrested on suspicion of the farmer's murder is the subject of a deportation notification. The man, who describes himself as an 'asylum-seeker', was officially notified some time ago. Aged in his 50s, he was arrested and released without charge last week in connection with the investigation into the killing of the missing 56-year-old Kerry farmer over two months ago. He denies any involvement and is free to leave Ireland if he wishes. Gardaí cannot re-arrest him unless new evidence comes to light. A source stressed this weekend that an 'ongoing appeal' for information remains in place and gardaí are still seeking the public's assistance. Another source said 'very unhelpful and incorrect speculation and innuendo' surrounding the case and on social media were becoming an issue. Theories that Mr Gaine's killing was linked to organised crime, including a drugs ring, have been discounted as incorrect. 'There are a lot of wild rumours out there being repeated on social media that are completely untrue and are no doubt deeply upsetting to Mike Gaine's family,' a source said. Meanwhile, the type of implement used to dismember Mr Gaine's body before it was disposed of in a slurry tank in his farmyard is expected to be revealed to gardaí in a final forensic report, due in the coming days. A source linked to the investigation acknowledged that, at present, there is an 'absence of evidence' to directly link any person to the murder. News in 90 Seconds - May 25th 2025
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 Times
19-05-2025
- Irish Times
Gardaí investigating murder of Michael Gaine release man held for questioning
Gardaí have released without charge a man in his 50s arrested for questioning about the murder of Kerry farmer Mike Gaine. Mr Gaine disappeared from his farm outside Kenmare in March. The man, who was arrested at an address in Tralee shortly after midday on Sunday, was questioned for up to 24 hours about the murder of Mr Gaine. He was detained at Killarney Garda station under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act. The Garda Press Office issued a statement on Monday night confirming the man had been released without charge. READ MORE Mr Gaine was last seen alive when he was captured on CCTV footage buying phone credit at 9.48am on March 20th at the Centra shop in Kenmare. He was reported missing on March 21st by his brother in law, Garda Sean O'Regan, when he failed to return home. Mr Gaine's wife Janice and his sister, Noreen O'Regan, issued an appeal for information on his disappearance on April 30th, a day after gardaí upgraded their inquiry from a missing person's investigation to a murder investigation. Gardai appointed a liaison officer early on in the investigation to keep Mr Gaine's family briefed on any developments in the case and it is understood that they have been informed that the suspect was released without charge. Gardaí hope searches at the farm of Mr Gaine will yield clues as to what happened to him. Members of the Garda Water Unit have carried out a thorough search of a slurry tank while Garda technical experts examined a slurry tanker at Mr Gaine's hillside farmyard, 6km from Kenmare, midway between the town and Moll's Gap on the Ring of Kerry. Mr Gaine's nephew Mark O'Regan and a local agricultural contractor were spreading slurry they had drawn from the tank in the yard on Friday evening when the spraying pipe became blocked. When they went to clear it, the discovered human remains and notified gardaí. It is understood Mr O'Regan and the contractor had already drawn four tanker loads of slurry from the pit and sprayed it on two fields when they made the discovery. Gardaí have spent much of the weekend combing the fields for more human remains. [ 'Words fail us': Searches continue at Michael Gaine's farm following discovery of partial remains Opens in new window ] Investigators are working on the theory that whoever killed Mr Gaine dismembered his body before disposing of the remains in the slurry tank. Gardaí believe that Mr Gaine was murdered somewhere in the vicinity of the farmyard on March 20th and his body was disposed of in the slurry tank. However, gardaí found no trace of blood or tissue on the farm that would result from a body being dismembered. One theory they are examining is whether Mr Gaine's body may have been dismembered in a stream, which would wash away clues. Gardaí on Michael Gaine's farm at Carrig East, Kenmare. Photograph: Noel Sweeney/PA Wire Investigators admit that they are facing a challenge to try to establish just how exactly Mr Gaine died if they do not have sufficient body parts that might allow a pathologist to confirm a cause of death. One informed source pointed out that in addition to Mr Gaine's appearing to have been dismembered, the fact that his remains were then put in the slurry tank also makes establishing a cause of death more difficult as human tissue dissolves in slurry. 'Slurry is rich in bacteria that break down tissue and flesh and the hot weather over the past few weeks would have speeded up that dissolution process so unless you find say a bony body part like a skull with some evidence of trauma, it will be very difficult to give a cause of death,' the source said.
