Searches are ongoing to find any further human remains in the investigation into the disappearance of Michael Gaine in Kerry.
Gardaí have confirmed partial human remains have been found during a search of lands in Carrig East near his farmyard.
DNA analysis will be needed to carry out formal identification of the recovered remains.
Presenter of Kerry Today on Radio Kerry Jerry O’Sullivan told The Anton Savage Show that Gardaí re-entered the farm on Friday following a discovery made by a member of the public.
“Following on from that, yesterday morning at first light Gardaí were there [and] I was at the scene,” he said.
“What you could observe from yesterday morning and from Friday evening was that slurry was being spread on two fields close to Mike Gaines' farmyard and the main farm shed.
“What we observed when we arrived there yesterday morning early was about six or seven yellow evidence markers on those two fields, and that was an indication initially that something had been found.
"Following the spreading of the slurry over those two fields, Gardaí were present at the scene.”
Slurry tanks at the scene in Carrig East, Kenmare, where Garda are investigating the disappearance of Co Kerry farmer Michael Gaine. Picture date: Saturday May 17, 2025. Image: Alamy / Noel SweeneyMichael Gaine
Mr O’Sullivan said Gardaí then called in the State Pathologist Dr Sally Anne Collis and Forensic Anthropologist Laureen Buckley, who arrived at the scene yesterday and worked until around 6pm.
Gardaí went on to confirm in a statement last night that partial human remains had been discovered in the area.
“Following on from the breakthrough, it's obviously going to take the investigation in a certain direction, so we'll await word from An Garda Síochána in relation to that,” Mr O’Sullivan said.
“But the activity is intense this morning and it's going to continue, I imagine, to remain intense for the next number of days.
“This discovery yesterday of partial human remains, I mean, in one way it throws up as many questions as it answers.”
According to Mr O’Sullivan, while family, friends and the local community around Mr Gaine had largely accepted the likelihood of his death, this is still a horrific and disturbing discovery to come to terms with.
Main image: A member of Garda Technical Unit at the scene in Carrig East, Kenmare, as they investigate the disappearance of Co Kerry farmer Michael Gaine.
