Much-loved farmer Michael Gaine, 56, vanished from his Co Kerry home on March 21 sparking one of the largest missing people investigations in Ireland’s recent history
Chopped up human remains believed to be those of farmer Michael Gaine were discovered dumped in a slurry tank sparking a huge police operation to find his killer.
Neighbours alerted Gardaí (Irish police) after they found human remains while spreading the contents of a slurry tank around his farm near Kenmare, Co Kerry last week. Police had been searching for Mr Gaine, 56, for weeks when the breakthrough discovery was made. DNA recovered at the scene have since been sent off to undergo testing, although it is believed the human remains are those of the farmer.
Gardaí sources told The Irish Mirror: “The belief now is that this tank was then emptied and spread across several fields. All of these fields are being checked and a number of other body parts have been discovered.”
A suspect has since been arrested in connection with Mr Gaine’s murder. A Gardaí spokesperson told the Mirror today the suspect is still being questioned. Here, the Mirror looks at some of the key from the investigation into Mr Gaine’s death…
Last known sighting, March 20
Mr Gaine was last seen buying phone credit at a Centra Shop in Kenmare at about 9:48am on March 20 this year. An image captured on the camera inside the shop show Mr Gaine wearing an orange woolly hat, black fleece, blue jeans and black boots.
There appeared to be several other people who were present at the shop at the time of his last sighting. Mr Gaine lived in the remote Carriag East area about four miles away from Kenmare.
Reported Missing, March 21
The farmer was reported missing from his home by his wife Janice on March 21. He was missing for several weeks until police upgraded their investigation to a homicide case.
There had been no substantive clues to indicate his final whereabouts and police as well as his family issued statements asking for any information to help find him.
The investigation to find Mr Gaine was one of the largest in Ireland’s recent history. The area around his farm was cordoned off and his vehicle was taken away for forensic tests.
Homicide investigation, April 29
Gardai announced on April 29 that they would reclassify their investigation to a homicide one. At the time of the reclassification, Mr Gaine’s remains had not been found, despite extensive searches being carried out.
Police continued their appeal for information for anyone with any information to come forward to their investigation team. “There are person or persons who know what happened on the 20th of March 2025,” police said.
Wife speaks out, April 30
Janice Gaine described her husband as her “best friend” in an emotional plea for more information. She previously told Irish media: “He loved his home. He loved his farm.
“He loved animals. He loved rallying. He had lots of friends. He was a very popular guy. His disappearance is totally out of character, we knew that from day one.
“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.”
Human remains found, May 17
Police found human remains dumped in a slurry tank before it was emptied and spread across several fields close to where Mr Gaine vanished. DNA was sent for testing, although it was believed it would be found to belong to the missing farmer.
“The belief now is that this tank was then emptied and spread across several fields,” a source told the Irish Mirror. “All of these fields are being checked and a number of other body parts have been discovered.”
The search area extended to several fields on the missing former farmer’s land.
Suspect arrested, May 18
A man known to Mr Gaine was being questioned by police over the murder of the farmer. The development came just hours after human remains were found chopped up and spread across several fields near where Mr Gaine lived.
The suspect, who is in his 50s, was arrested in Co Kerry earlier today. He was held on suspicion of murder. Gardaí told The Mirror this morning that the suspect remains in custody.