Man, 50s, arrested on suspicion of murder of Kerry farmer Michael Gaine
Two friends and an undertaker remove Michael Gaine's remains from his cattle shed to the hearse. Picture: Neil Michael
A man has been arrested on suspicion of the murder of Kerry farmer Michael Gaine.
The man, who is aged in 50s, was arrested on Sunday afternoon.
He being detained under the provisions of Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 at a Garda Station in Kerry.
A garda spokesperson told the that Michael Gaine's family have been informed of the arrest and are continuing to be supported by a Family Liaison Officer.
"Gardaí continue to appeal to the public assistance in this investigation," the spokesperson said.
"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.
"Updates will be provided as appropriate."
Just after 5.20pm, a hearse arrived at the gates to Michael Gaine's farm.
The undertaker was greeted by a garda who checked him before he drove slowly down the track towards the farm.
A coffin was taken out of the hearse and carried by gardaí and local men who had been helping gardaí with the search.
A short while later a red car, believed to be driven by a curate filling in for the local priest, arrived. He parked up and went into the barn.
As word had spread of an arrest, friends and members of Mr Gaine’s family also appeared on a section of road overlooking the farm.
His widow could be heard softly sobbing as - at 5.44pm - some of what are believed to be Mr Gaine’s remains were brought out in a coffin.
Two friends carried the front of the coffin, while the undertaker carried the back.
They placed it in the back of the hearse which driven back out of the farm followed by a garda car.
A friend of his walked forward and tapped his hand on the side of the hearse as it left.
The hearse then drove up past an area where Mr Gaine’s wife had been watching proceedings.
Earlier this morning, flowers were left at the entrance to the Gaine farmstead as the Garda search of the property where partial human remains were found on Saturday intensified.
Around three dozen garda personnel were at the scene with an excavator also employed today.
Members of the Garda Water Unit which has expertise in hazardous environments such as septic and slurry tanks have joined members of the Garda Technical Bureau in the investigation.
Throughout the day, gardaí have been lifting slatted slabs covering an underground slurry tank in the large slatted unit cattle shed in the yard, and sifting through material from the tank.
It is understood the search of the large well-kept fields where slurry was spread on Friday and the yard continues to yield a grim discovery of partial human remains which are being sent for DNA testing.
The Garda Technical Bureau arrived on-site around 2pm Saturday.
An Garda Síochána later confirmed that partial human remains had been found.
Forensic teams began photographing the area and deploying drones to capture aerial images of the farm, while detectives examined a location near the front of the farmhouse.
Yellow evidence markers were later seen placed around fields close to the farmhouse where slurry had recently been spread.
Shortly before 5pm on Saturday, State Pathologist Dr Sally Anne Collis, accompanied by Gardaí, returned to the large slatted cattle shed on the property.
The shed contains two slatted units. Locals who observed the initial investigation said the main unit was emptied at that time, but the smaller secondary unit was not fully cleared.
According to those present, slurry remained in the second unit and was agitated, pumped into slurry tanks, and spread on Friday. It is understood that the alarm was raised when the spout of the slurry spreader became blocked.
Earlier in the afternoon, a large slurry agitator — a metal mixer used to break up solids in tanks — along with a pump and gutter system feeding into the slatted unit, appeared to be the focus of examination by Dr Collis and investigating gardaí. Slurry spreaders are also being forensically examined.
A truck carrying two large metal skips arrived at the scene and placed them outside the slatted unit.
Up to twelve uniformed officers, equipped with metal litter-picking tools, were seen walking in a line across the area, moving slowly and methodically as they combed the ground.
Gardaí continue to guard all access points to the land.
The site itself remains largely quiet, with little visible movement aside from investigators and a steady stream of press photographers gathered at the entrance.
Minister of State and Kerry TD Michael Healy-Rae, who knew Mr Gaine personally, described the discovery of human tissue at the farm as “sad but welcome news,” and urged anyone with relevant information to come forward.
“You’d be hoping this is the answer to the questions everyone has been asking,” he said.
“This is so sad and so upsetting. But in an unusual way, this is welcome news because everybody wants this to come to a conclusion.”
Mr Gaine, 56, was last seen alive on Thursday, March 20, in Kenmare.
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