Michael Kelley, who maintains his innocence in the Kenmare farmer’s alleged murder, admitted he is heartbroken after dismembered remains were found in slurry on his land
A man from the US who was arrested by police on suspicion of murdering farmer Michael Gaine said he is “absolutely revolted” by what allegedly happened to him. Michael Kelley, who maintains his innocence in the Kenmare farmer’s murder, admitted he is heartbroken after dismembered remains were found in slurry on his land.
When questioned about his feelings towards the alleged crime, Kelley stated: “Yes, yes absolutely revolted. Heartbreaking.” Originally from Maine in the US, Kelley revealed that he had been taken in by Gaine three years prior, allowing him to work on the 1,000-acre farm in Kenmare, County Kerry. “About three years. I was between jobs and I was looking for work and I was already in the neighbourhood and I was canvassing different farms just knocking on doors and looking for jobs,” he explained.
When asked if Gaine treated him well, Kelley responded: “He was OK.”, reports the Irish Mirror. Kelley declined to elaborate further, stating: “I think it would be incautious to elaborate further but my statement is that he was OK.”
When asked about potential difficulties between him and the suspected murder victim, Kelley chose not to comment, citing his solicitor’s advice. The US native, who claims to have been seeking “asylum” in Ireland for the past seven years, acknowledged that he will likely face further questioning by gardai regarding the murder. “I accept I probably will be questioned again,” he stated.
Speaking about his previous life, Mr Kelley revealed: “I left behind a house, a family, everything.” Earlier, Mr Kelley had accused to us of being set up for the murder of Mr Gaine, and he expressed his belief that the remains were found while he was still residing on the property.
He alleged that the police were not being “forthcoming” with information and mentioned that they had searched the slurry tanks during the initial week after Mr Gaine went missing. “They didnt disclose to me that they discovered it, I had to deduce it,” he stated.
Asserting that he returned to “living my life” following these events, he continued: “You have to understand I was homeless and other than that farmhouse and I was there for six weeks of the investigation. There are inconsistencies in their [police] claims because they completely searched those tanks within the first week. They’re claiming that they just discovered these body parts,” he said.
“I know that they searched those tanks thoroughly within the first week and it was reported in the news. I’m saying the guards are not being completely forthright with all the elements in this case,” he insisted.
Mr Kelley, who had previously confided he was being framed by figures “involved in organised crime”, is currently residing in Tralee. The suspect was spotted ambling through the town – even seen playing the flute in the centre. Reports suggest he has been residing locally for some time, staying in a hostel. He’s also been seen busking on Main Street of Tralee, mingling with tourists and locals.
This development follows revelations by Mr Kelley to the Irish Mirror that gardaí consider him a suspect in the murder of Mr Gaine – after dismembered remains were discovered in slurry on his Kenmare land. “Well that is a matter of record,” he admitted when queried about being perceived as a suspect and his previous arrest and gardaí interrogation – before being released earlier this week without charge.
“Do you know who I am? Well then why do you ask? Whether or not I’m a suspect is not a matter of perspective. It’s a matter of public record,” he further stated. When pressed on whether he had said anything to the gardaí, Mr Kelley divulged: “Well of course but that’s all stuff that is privileged between the guards, the solicitor and myself.”
Pursued further about his denial of any involvement in the murder of Mr Gaine, he confirmed, “Yes.” Inquiring into his thoughts on what transpired with Mr Gaine, Mr Kelley cautiously noted, “It would be incautious for me to comment on that on the advice of my solicitor.”
Yet, he did express his distress over Mr Gaine’s death and reiterated his denial of any involvement. Mr Kelley, when questioned about the possibility of another person’s involvement, responded with “that’s the obvious deduction isn’t it, somebody is.”
In response to whether he acknowledged this as a murder, Mr Kelley clarified to us: “No, it’s an alleged murder. What it is is a missing persons case in which a man is missing and in which body parts have been found. So those are Michael Gaine’s body parts in that tank. Belonging to him, maybe not of him, but they are his property,” he asserted. “So you understand those body parts in that tank are Michael Gaine’s property.”
These remarks from Mr Kelley emerge as we disclosed earlier this week that detectives now suspect Mr Gaine’s murderer spent several hours meticulously dismembering the body before disposing of it through small openings into a vast slurry tank on the farm.
The perpetrator is thought to have used water and disinfectant to wash away any forensic evidence at the scene, directing it into the same slurry tank where the remains were eventually found.
The discovery was made by specialist officers from the Technical Bureau and the Water Unit, who thoroughly searched extensive tracts of land and every part of the large slurry tank. Yesterday, it was confirmed by gardaí that they are convinced the remains belong to Mr Gaine, who was last spotted at a Centra Shop in Kenmare, approximately 8 km from his farm, on March 20.