Latest news with #RallyoftheLakes2025
Irish Independent
07-05-2025
- Irish Independent
‘Cloud' over Rally at absence of Kerry farmer Mike Gaine
The 56-year old Kerry farmer has been missing since March 20 and last week the case into his disappearance was upgraded to homicide. Despite one of the most extensive searches ever carried out in Kerry the whereabouts of Mr Gaine remains unknown. Clerk of the course, Dermot Healy, said Mike is 'personification' of rallying in Killarney and that his absence was keenly felt. 'Despite the fantastic weather over the weekend the event was held under a cloud. Kenmare man Mike Gaine has been missing for a number of weeks and despite best efforts of the various agencies and his community he has yet to be found,' he said. 'Mike is well known to us all having competed in the Rally of the Lakes in the past. He is the personification of rallying in Killarney with his beloved farm located close to the end of the Molls Gap Stage. It was very poignant to see many of his friends coordinate, compete and marshal on the Molls Gap stage on Sunday.' Mr Gaine was also honoured at the Rally by stickers on competitors cars which were also hoped would help in the search for the farmer. The stickers read: 'Mike Gaine - Help bring him back - One of our own – Rally of the Lakes 2025'. Friend and rally driver Thomas Randles said it was a gesture to help Mike and his family. The Molls Gap stage of the Rally passed Mike's farm which has been the centre of the investigation for the past six weeks and many of those standing watching the event were friends of the farmer. A round of applause also took place at the closing ceremony of the event in honour of Mike but also those who have helped in the search for the Kerry farmer. Gardaí have identified a person of interest in the homicide investigation but have stated this person is not a suspect at this time. ADVERTISEMENT Mr Gaine's disappearance is now being treated as a crime and a new criminal investigation has been launched. Garda sources have said the reclassification of the case effectively gives An Garda Siochána more investigative powers, including sealing off potential crime scenes, obtaining warrants if necessary, and questioning people of interest. In an appeal last week gardaí also said that a person or persons know what happened on March 20 – the day Mr Gaine was last seen. He was officially reported missing on Friday, March 21 almost six weeks ago. His family also issued an appeal for information through his wife Janice and sister Noreen who said they are 'devastated' at what has happened and just want Mike home. 'If you have not been in a position to speak to An Garda Síochána about the information you have, or have already spoken to An Garda Síochána but have more information that you can provide - An Garda Síochána is appealing to you to come forward with that information. 'Information received will be treated in the strictest confidence,' gardaí added. 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 at any garda station nationwide.
Irish Independent
07-05-2025
- Irish Independent
‘Cloud' over Rally at absent of Kerry farmer Mike Gaine
The 56-year old Kerry farmer has been missing since March 20 and last week the case into his disappearance was upgraded to homicide. Despite one of the most extensive searches ever carried out in Kerry the whereabouts of Mr Gaine remains unknown. Clerk of the course, Dermot Healy, said Mike is 'personification' of rallying in Killarney and that his absence was keenly felt. 'Despite the fantastic weather over the weekend the event was held under a cloud. Kenmare man Mike Gaine has been missing for a number of weeks and despite best efforts of the various agencies and his community he has yet to be found,' he said. 'Mike is well known to us all having competed in the Rally of the Lakes in the past. He is the personification of rallying in Killarney with his beloved farm located close to the end of the Molls Gap Stage. It was very poignant to see many of his friends coordinate, compete and marshal on the Molls Gap stage on Sunday.' Mr Gaine was also honoured at the Rally by stickers on competitors cars which were also hoped would help in the search for the farmer. The stickers read: 'Mike Gaine - Help bring him back - One of our own – Rally of the Lakes 2025'. Friend and rally driver Thomas Randles said it was a gesture to help Mike and his family. The Molls Gap stage of the Rally passed Mike's farm which has been the centre of the investigation for the past six weeks and many of those standing watching the event were friends of the farmer. A round of applause also took place at the closing ceremony of the event in honour of Mike but also those who have helped in the search for the Kerry farmer. Gardaí have identified a person of interest in the homicide investigation but have stated this person is not a suspect at this time. Mr Gaine's disappearance is now being treated as a crime and a new criminal investigation has been launched. Garda sources have said the reclassification of the case effectively gives An Garda Siochána more investigative powers, including sealing off potential crime scenes, obtaining warrants if necessary, and questioning people of interest. In an appeal last week gardaí also said that a person or persons know what happened on March 20 – the day Mr Gaine was last seen. He was officially reported missing on Friday, March 21 almost six weeks ago. His family also issued an appeal for information through his wife Janice and sister Noreen who said they are 'devastated' at what has happened and just want Mike home. 'If you have not been in a position to speak to An Garda Síochána about the information you have, or have already spoken to An Garda Síochána but have more information that you can provide - An Garda Síochána is appealing to you to come forward with that information. 'Information received will be treated in the strictest confidence,' gardaí added. 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 at any garda station nationwide.
Sunday World
29-04-2025
- Sunday World
Mike Gaine search: Rally drivers in special campaign to find missing farmer
Missing Kerry farmer Mike Gaine to be honored at Rally of the Lakes as search continues Kerry farmer Michael (Mike) Gaine who has been missing for five weeks. The community are baffled by his disappearance. A special plea will be made at this weekend's Rally of the Lakes to help bring missing Kerry farmer Mike Gaine home. The 56-year old has now been missing almost 40 days since Friday, March 20 and despite an almost six-week garda investigation there has been no lead into what happened to him. Mike was a great supporter of motorsport in Kerry, and a former competitor, and this weekend his friends in rallying circles have joined the ongoing search for the farmer with their own special plea. All rally cars competing in this weekend's Rally of the Lakes will carry special stickers in support of the search for missing Kenmare man Michael Gaine. Kerry farmer Michael (Mike) Gaine who has been missing for five weeks. The community are baffled by his disappearance. 'Things like this don't happen around here. It's completely out of character for Mike to just disappear'- Friends of Mike Gaine baffled by his disappearance The stickers read: 'Mike Gaine - Help bring him back - One of our own – Rally of the Lakes 2025'. Friend and rally driver Thomas Randles said this week this was something they wanted to do to help Mike. "I know Mike since he was a teenager I drew silage with him and he worked in the quarry with me. He had a fierce interest in rallying and he would go to watch stages a lot.' "Every time we do the Molls Gap stage we pass his land and when people are watching it they are standing on his land and he never objected to it.' 'This year as we pass Molls Gap we will beep in honour of him'. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Michael was a familiar sight on the stages behind the wheel of his Ford Escort Mk2 and since then interest has continued with Mike regularly attending events. The stickers were handed out in each rally pack and the cars will have Mike's picture on them with their plea and it is hoped that the latest effort to help find Mike will bring more information to light. "We would just like his disappearance to come to a conclusion. This was his sport and we wanted to do this for him,' said Thomas. The last official sighting of Mike Gaine is buying phone credit in his local Central Shop on March 20. He was officially reported missing on Friday, March 21. 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 along with his phone and wallet. Since then – almost six weeks ago – gardaí have led an investigation into his disappearance but despite one of the most extensive searches ever carried out in Kerry his disappearance remains a mystery. Gardaí have described the case as 'unique and challenging'. Gardaí are examining all options, and although foul play has not been ruled out, there is no evidence of any crime. The Defence Forces has now spent four weeks searching the 1,000-acre farm, but nothing of any significance has been found. Last week Defence Forces personnel from 12th Infantry Battalion and an Engineer Specialist Search Team (ESST) from 1 Brigade Engineer Group continued their search of Mr Gaine's farm in Kenmare which spans more than 1,000 acres of difficult terrain. In the past six weeks An Garda Síochána has been helped by the Civil Defence (Kerry and Cork), Irish Coast Guard Units (Glenderry and Iveragh), Irish Coastguard Rescue Helicopter 115, Kerry Mountain Rescue, Search and Rescue Dog Team, Kerry Fire Service and 200 civilian volunteers to help search for Mike but to no avail. To date An Garda Síochána has undertaken nearly 230 formal jobs/inquiries, taken nearly 100 witness statements and recovered about 1,500 hours of CCTV/dash-cam footage. In their latest appeal Gardaí reached out to cycling clubs in Kerry to see if any of their members were in the vicinity of the farm on March 20. However, there is still no conclusion to what has become one of the county's and country's most prominent missing cases. 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. Gardaí have appealed to anyone with information to contact Killarney garda station on 064 667 1160, the Garda Confidential Line at 1800 666 111 or any garda station
Irish Independent
29-04-2025
- Irish Independent
Mike Gaine search: Rally drivers in special campaign to ‘bring Mike home'
The 56-year old has now been missing almost 40 days since Friday, March 20 and despite an almost six-week garda investigation there has been no lead into what happened to him. Mike was a great supporter of motorsport in Kerry, and a former competitor, and this weekend his friends in rallying circles have joined the ongoing search for the farmer with their own special plea. All rally cars competing in this weekend's Rally of the Lakes will carry special stickers in support of the search for missing Kenmare man Michael Gaine. The stickers read: 'Mike Gaine - Help bring him back - One of our own – Rally of the Lakes 2025'. "I know Mike since he was a teenager I drew silage with him and he worked in the quarry with me. He had a fierce interest in rallying and he would go to watch stages a lot.' "Every time we do the Molls Gap stage we pass his land and when people are watching it they are standing on his land and he never objected to it.' 'This year as we pass Molls Gap we will beep in honour of him'. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Michael was a familiar sight on the stages behind the wheel of his Ford Escort Mk2 and since then interest has continued with Mike regularly attending events. The stickers were handed out in each rally pack and the cars will have Mike's picture on them with their plea and it is hoped that the latest effort to help find Mike will bring more information to light. "We would just like his disappearance to come to a conclusion. This was his sport and we wanted to do this for him,' said Thomas. The last official sighting of Mike Gaine is buying phone credit in his local Central Shop on March 20. He was officially reported missing on Friday, March 21. 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 along with his phone and wallet. Since then – almost six weeks ago – gardaí have led an investigation into his disappearance but despite one of the most extensive searches ever carried out in Kerry his disappearance remains a mystery. Gardaí have described the case as 'unique and challenging'. Gardaí are examining all options, and although foul play has not been ruled out, there is no evidence of any crime. The Defence Forces has now spent four weeks searching the 1,000-acre farm, but nothing of any significance has been found. Last week Defence Forces personnel from 12th Infantry Battalion and an Engineer Specialist Search Team (ESST) from 1 Brigade Engineer Group continued their search of Mr Gaine's farm in Kenmare which spans more than 1,000 acres of difficult terrain. In the past six weeks An Garda Síochána has been helped by the Civil Defence (Kerry and Cork), Irish Coast Guard Units (Glenderry and Iveragh), Irish Coastguard Rescue Helicopter 115, Kerry Mountain Rescue, Search and Rescue Dog Team, Kerry Fire Service and 200 civilian volunteers to help search for Mike but to no avail. To date An Garda Síochána has undertaken nearly 230 formal jobs/inquiries, taken nearly 100 witness statements and recovered about 1,500 hours of CCTV/dash-cam footage. In their latest appeal Gardaí reached out to cycling clubs in Kerry to see if any of their members were in the vicinity of the farm on March 20. However, there is still no conclusion to what has become one of the county's and country's most prominent missing cases. 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.
