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Police searching for missing farmer find partial human remains

An Garda Síochána A man with a brown and grey beard is looking into the camera. He is wearing a red t-shirt and grey baseball cap. In the background we can see a body of water and mountains. An Garda Síochána
Michael Gaine, 56, has been missing for more than eight weeks

Police searching for missing County Kerry farmer Michael Gaine have found partial human remains at a field close to his farmyard.

Mr Gaine, 56, has been missing for more than eight weeks and he was initially treated as a missing persons case before it was upgraded to a homicide on 29 April.

Gardaí (Irish police) designated a site near to Mr Gaine's farm, in Kenmare, as a crime scene on Friday and have been conducting technical and forensic examinations.

They said DNA analysis will be carried out to make a formal identification of the remains, while searches continue at the site.

RTÉ A GARDA car parked at the side of a narrow dirt road. There is a person in a white forensic suit walking up the path away from the car. Rolling green hills are in the backdrop. RTÉ
Investigation teams in Kenmare, County Kerry

Mr Gaine, a sheep and cattle farmer, was reported missing from his home near Kenmare on Friday, 21 March. He was last seen in the County Kerry town the previous day.

He lived in the remote Carrig East area close the Molls Gap beauty spot along the renowned Ring of Kerry.

Last month, Michael Gaine's wife Janice told Irish broadcaster RTÉ that he "loved his home, he loved his farm, he loved animals" adding that his disappearance was "totally out of character".

According to RTÉ, in-depth investigations by gardaí ruled out "innocent" explanations, such as a medical event, an accident, or that he left the area voluntarily.

A missing person's investigation operates on the basis of consent, but when gardaí announced the re-classification of their investigation, it meant the range of options in front of the investigation team significantly increased.

They could then get search warrants, clear areas of interest and seize and examine certain items like phones and laptops.