Police believe a missing Irish farmer may have been chopped up and dumped in a slurry tank before it was emptied across several fields.
Michael Gaine, 56, was reported missing nearby his home in Kenmare on March 21, having last been seen in the town purchasing phone credit at the Centra Shop the morning prior.
Over the last eight weeks, police have probed his disappearance, with his wife Janice Gaine and sister Noreen O’Regan pleading for information from the public regarding his whereabouts.
On April 29, the investigation into his disappearance has since been classed a homicide. A source has since revealed that cops believe his remains have been placed into a slurry tank and spread over several paddocks.
They told the Irish Mirror: ‘The belief now is that 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.’
The area being combed though by police is understood to be several fields, owned by Mr Gaine. Police have been searching the land in Carrig East, Kenmare since last Friday, and it has since been declared as a crime scene.
A man in his 50s has since been arrested on suspicion of murder, after being questioned by officers earlier today, around 48 hours after partial human remains were found on the land.
In a statement, the Garda said: ‘The male is being detained under the provisions of Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 at a Garda station in Kerry Division.’
They added that members of the force would ‘carry out searches and technical examinations at lands at Carrig East, Kenmare, Co Kerry’.
His final sighting was the day prior. where he purchased phone credit in a Centra Shop in Kenmare at around 9.48am
On April 29, the investigation into his disappearance has since been classed a homicide, and authorities have began searching his home (pictured)
‘The belief now is that 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 source said
The area being combed though by police is understood to be several fields, which were owned by Mr Gaine
Police have been combing the land in Carrig East, Kenmare since last Friday. It has since been declared as a crime scene by cops
‘The family of Michael Gaine have been informed of this arrest and An Garda Síochána continue to support Michael’s family through a family liaison officer. The family have requested privacy at this time.’
During their investigation, police say they have accumulated 2,200 hours of CCTV as well as dashcam footage, and have gathered around 130 witness statements.
Yesterday, State Pathologist Dr Sally Anne Collis as well as Garda Technical Bureau (GTB) travelled to the missing farmer’s property. Dr Collis and forensic anthropologist Laureen Buckley worked with GTB to perform preliminary examinations of the site.
The Garda Water Unit, as well as Irish military personnel, have also aided in the search for Mr Gaine over the last few weeks, setting up checkpoints to help obtain information and further the probe.
On Saturday, police said: ‘Gardaí at Killarney Garda Station continue to investigate the disappearance and homicide of Michael Gaine, who was reported missing from his home near Kenmare, Co Kerry, on Friday, March 21, 2025.
‘As part of the investigation, operations resumed at lands in Carrig East, Kenmare, Co Kerry on Friday evening and a crime scene has now been declared.
‘The Garda Technical Bureau and the Office of the State Pathologist have been requested to attend the scene.
‘Pending examinations by both the Garda Technical Bureau and the State Pathologist, An Garda Síochána is not in a position to provide further information at this time. The investigation is ongoing and further updates will follow.’
