It’s almost six months since Kerry man Michael ‘Mike’ Gaine was first reported missing from his farm in Kenmare. The search that followed was one of the biggest in recent history, across thousands of acres and with hundreds of locals, emergency and army personnel taking part. Despite their efforts, they could find no trace of the popular 56-year-old.
It would be many weeks before Mr Gaine’s family would get any answers in the baffling disappearance when locals helping to manage his farmland made a gruesome discovery. The partial human remains discovered in a slurry tank on May 16 were soon confirmed to be a DNA match for the missing man.
Before long, gardaí focused their investigation on the farm itself and a man named Michael Kelley.
Mr Kelley, who had been shown a “great kindness” by the farmer and who was living and working on his land at the time of his disappearance, was arrested on suspicion of murder and later released without charge.
In this episode of the Indo Daily, Fionnán Sheahan speaks to special correspondent with the Irish Independent Catherine Fegan about her interview with Mr Kelley and to look back at a tragic story that has gripped the nation.