Gardaí have said they have declared a crime scene as part of the investigation into the disappearance and homicide of Kerry farmer Michael Gaine.
Michael Gaine was reported missing from his home near Kenmare on Friday, March 21, 2025.
The suckler and sheep farmer was last seen in Kenmare town on Thursday, March 20, 2025.
In a statement today (Saturday, May 17), gardaí said: "Gardaí at Killarney Garda Station continue to investigate the disappearance and homicide of Michael Gaine (56), 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, May 16, 2025, and a crime scene has now been declared," the garda statement added.
The statement also noted that the Office of the State Pathologist, and the Garda Technical Bureau, have been requested to attend the scene.
It is understood that no further information will be provided by gardaí until the examinations of the State Pathologist and the Garda Technical Bureau are completed.
"The investigation is ongoing and further updates will follow," Gardaí said.
On April 29, gardaí announced that their missing person investigation into the disappearance of Michael Gaine had been upgraded to a homicide investigation.
Gardaí said the decision to upgrade the investigation to homicide was based on the information available to the investigation team at Killarney Garda Station.
Gardaí said at the time that "a formal criminal investigation has now commenced”.
The following day (April 30), the family of Michael Gaine made an emotional appeal for information as part of the garda investigation.
In a video posted to the An Garda Síochána Kerry Facebook page on April 30, Michael’s wife Janice said: “He was my best friend, my husband. This whole thing has been devastating.
“If there is anyone that has any information about Michael, do please come forward and talk to the Gardaí. 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…We just want Michael to come home,” Janice Gaine said.