Michael Gaine search: Gardaí dismiss rumours as investigation continues
Michael Gaine, who was last seen in a Centra in Kenmare on March 20.
Gardaí are expected to conduct an assessment of the investigation into the disappearance of Kerry farmer Michael Gaine early next week.
Gardaí said that rumours on Friday that Mr Gaine had been found were false and denied there had been an arrest in the case.
The investigation remains one of a missing person, according to gardaí, with no evidence to date to suggest foul play.
The 56-year-old was reported missing from his home near Kenmare on March 21. He was last seen in Kenmare town the previous day.
He bought phone credit in Centra, Kenmare, at 9.48am, and left in his bronze-coloured RAV4 registration 152 KY 366.
The vehicle was found parked in his farmyard, just off the N71 at Carrig East.
When last seen, Michael was wearing an orange woolly hat, black fleece, blue jeans, and black boots.
One source said: “The next few days will tell a lot on where we are going. We will continue what we are doing over the weekend, continuing to search the farmyard.”
He added that gardaí will be assessing the situation early next week, after more than five weeks of searching.
Daily searches have taken place in the farmyard at Carrig East, as well as on surrounding lands, water sources and roads.
Gardaí have been assisted by the Defence Forces, as well as the Civil Defence, Irish Coast Guard Units, Irish Coastguard Rescue Helicopter 115, Kerry Mountain Rescue, Search and Rescue Dog Team, and Kerry Fire Service.
Several members of the local community took part in a search of the area on the weekend following his disappearance.
The focus of the Defence Forces’s involvement centred on wooded and marsh areas in the area.
In recent days, an engineer specialist search team from 1 Brigade Engineer Group has joined in the efforts to locate him.
To date, land on Mr Gaine’s 1,000-acre farm has been excavated and slurry tanks have been emptied.
Divers have also searched lakes, streams and quarries in the probe, which has been described by gardaí on the case as “unique” given that there is no specific lead in the investigation.
Gardaí still want to speak to any person who travelled on the N71 on March 20, after 9.48am and/or any person who may have any camera footage, including dash-cam or CCTV, or any other images (video or still) from March 20 and March 21 in the Kenmare town/Moll’s Gap (N71/R568) area to provide that imagery to the Garda investigation team.
They have also appealed to local cycling clubs whose members may have cycled the Molls Gap road between Kenmare and Killarney to come forward.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Killarney gardaí on 064 6671167.
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