Overview

• Michael Gaine, a 56-year-old farmer from County Kerry, was reported missing on March 21, 2025, after being last seen the day before in Kenmare.
• The investigation was reclassified as a homicide on April 29 following weeks of extensive searches and evidence gathering.
• Partial human remains, including bones and tissue, were discovered in a slurry tank and nearby fields on May 16–17, prompting forensic examinations and DNA analysis for formal identification.
• A man in his 50s was arrested on May 18 on suspicion of Gaine's murder and is being detained under the Criminal Justice Act while investigations at the crime scene continue.
• The Gardaí have conducted over 2,200 hours of CCTV review, 130 witness interviews, and technical searches involving specialist units, with the community expressing shock at the unprecedented case.