Michael Gaine timeline amid multiple crime scene probe & farm agitator fear
A MAN in his 50s who was arrested on the suspicion of the murder of Michael Gaine was last night released without charge. Gardai are continuing to carry out searches for the murder weapon on Michael's farmland at Carrig East near Kenmare in Co Kerry after partial remains were found in the area and a crime scene declared. 6Emergency personnel close to the farm of Michael Gaine near Kenmare in Co Kerry yesterdayCredit: Noel Sweeney/PA Wire6Michael Gaine was last seen buying phone credit in his local Centra shopCredit: Garda Press Office issue6Defence Forces personnel using a small digger as the search for the 56-year-old sheep farmer continuesCredit: Noel Sweeney/PA WireHuman remains were found in the two fields beside the farmhouse on Michael’s 1,000-acre farm by a family friend who was spreading slurry on Friday. When he investigated why the spreading pipe appeared to be clogged up, he discovered bone and human tissue and immediately contacted gardai. It’s understood a murder weapon or implements that could have been used to cut up Mr Gaine’s body have not yet been found.It’s anticipated there is at least one other crime scene where the farmer was killed and possibly a second one where the body was cut up.READ MORE ON MICHAEL GAINEYesterday, members of the Irish Defence Forces searched an area of land close to the main road with strimmers, shovels and spades.Up to 30 personnel from the Engineer Specialist Search Team, trained in search techniques, were drafted in to aid in the search yesterday morning. Gardai wielding rakes and shovels meanwhile combed through fields, vegetation, grasslands, rubble and undergrowth as well as fields where the slurry was spread.Members of the Garda Dog Unit also joined the search alongside the Garda Water Unit, which is trained to work in hazardous conditions.An industrial unit for clearing drains was also brought to the farm.The man arrested on suspicion of Michael's murder is understood to be known to the deceased. He was questioned by a team of elite detectives from the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation and the Kerry Serious Crime Unit about his relationship with the 56-year-old before being released.A garda spokesperson said: "Search operations, supported by local, regional, and national Garda units, other emergency services and the Defence Forces, are ongoing at Carrig East, Kenmare, Co. Kerry.MICHAEL GAINE TIMELINEMarch 20: Michael Gaine last seen buying phone credit in a Centra shop in Kenmare. March 21: Michael is reported missing to gardai by his wife Janice. March 22: Gardai release first missing person appeal seeking any information on missing Michael. March 22: Over 200 people show up to join a co-ordinated search for Michael as Gardai, the Coast Guard, Civil Defence, and Kerry Mountain Rescue are drafted in to help.March 24: Gardai issue a renewed appeal for information and excavate the Kenmare farmyard. The large slurry pit is emptied.March 25: Specialist garda divers are called in to search mountain lakes and a garda helicopter and drones search the farm from the sky.March 27: Gardai carry out checkpoints and trawl through hours of CCYV footage as Garda Superintendent David Callaghan makes a public appeal.March 31: Defence Forces personnel are brought in to assist as the search enters its 11th day.April 3: There were emotional scenes at Kenmare Mart as some cattle and sheep belong to Michael are sold off.April 15: Garda Commissioner Drew Harris said there were "no leads" in the case. April 29: Six weeks after the missing persons investigation began the case was upgraded to homicide, giving gardai further investigative powers.April 30: Gardai hold a press conference in Kenmare as Michael's wife, Janice, and his sister, Noreen O'Regan, appear in a video appeal for the first time, pleading for any information on where the farmer is.May 16: An area of Michael's farm is declared a crime scene as human remains are found by a family friend spreading slurry.May 18: A man, aged in his 50s, is arrested on suspicion of the murder of Michael and questioned by gardai. May 19: The arrested man is released without charge and gardai confirm the search of the farm and its lands is ongoing. "The family of Michael Gaine have been kept informed of this update and An Garda Siochana continue to support Michael's family through a Family Liaison Officer. The family have requested privacy at this time".Forensic and laboratory tests on the remains are now central to the probe and a DNA examination is expected to identify the human tissue as Michael.Gardai are hoping the tests will determine the cause of death and how long the dismembered remains were in the slurry tank before being discovered.LOST EVIDENCE FEARBut sources yesterday told The Irish Sun that there are fears evidence could have been lost in the slurry pit after a larger slurry pit was searched during the initial probe but a smaller one nearby, which the remains were traced to, wasn't fully emptied. Gardai are now investigating if the remains were moved there after the initial search or if they were overlooked the first time around.A source said: “A farming machine known as an agitator is used to break down solid material in a slurry tank.“It is feared some body parts may have been in the agitator. Who knows if vital evidence was lost?”Investigators are now attempting to determine the impact the agitator could have had on the body while it was inside the tank.The farm has been a hive of activity over the weekend as painstaking searches of the field slurry was spread and the tank are carried out. Cops have continued to appeal for public assistance in their investigation.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 Siochana.6Tributes for the farmer have been left close to the farm entranceCredit: Noel Sweeney/PA Wire6Forensic and laboratory tests on the remains are now central to the probeCredit: Ann Mooney6A crime scene has been declared at Michael's farmCredit: Ann Mooney
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