Thursday 29 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 0766Murder · Co. Kerry · 20 Mar 2025

Former US soldier Michael Kelley to be tried in Dublin for murder of Kerry farmer Michael Gaine

Michael Kelley, 54, from Maine in the United States, a former US soldier who served in the early 1990s, is charged with the murder of Michael Gaine, a sheep farmer in Co Kerry. The alleged killing took place at Carrig East, Kenmare, between March 20th and 21st, 2025. Kelley was arrested in February 2026, almost a year after Gaine went missing. The trial is scheduled for January 2027 at the Criminal Courts of Justice in Dublin, where 191 witnesses are expected to give evidence over eight to nine weeks.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court22 Jun
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Michael Kelley, 54, a former US soldier who served in the early 1990s, is charged with the murder of Michael Gaine, a sheep farmer in Co Kerry.
Where
The alleged murder took place at Carrig East, Kenmare, Co Kerry.
When
The alleged murder occurred between March 20th and 21st, 2025.
Investigation
Kelley was arrested in February 2026, almost a year after Gaine went missing.
In court
  • The trial is scheduled for January 2027 at the Criminal Courts of Justice in Dublin, with 191 witnesses expected over eight to nine weeks.
  • Judge Paul McDermott assigned the trial to Dublin rather than Cork due to its length.
Other details
  • Kelley is from Maine in the United States.
  • Kelley came to Ireland in 2017 and applied for asylum on arrival at Dublin Airport.
  • Kelley was accommodated by the International Protection Accommodation Service at a centre in Killarney for a number of months.
15 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatMichael Kelley is a former US soldier who served in the US army in the early 1990s (irishtimes.com)
  • whatMichael Gaine was a sheep farmer in Co Kerry (irishtimes.com)
  • whereMichael Kelley is from Maine in the United States (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe alleged murder took place at Carrig East, Kenmare (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe alleged murder occurred between March 20th and 21st, 2025 (irishtimes.com)
  • whenMichael Kelley was arrested in February 2026, almost a year after Gaine went missing (irishtimes.com)
  • whenMichael Kelley came to Ireland in 2017 (irishtimes.com)
  • court191 witnesses are due to give evidence at the trial (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe trial could take between eight and nine weeks (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe trial is scheduled for January 2027 (irishtimes.com)
  • courtJudge Paul McDermott scheduled the trial in Dublin rather than Cork due to its length (irishtimes.com)
  • courtKelley appeared before the Criminal Court of Justice in Dublin via video-link from prison (irishtimes.com)
  • otherKelley applied for asylum on arrival at Dublin Airport (irishtimes.com)
  • otherKelley was accommodated by the International Protection Accommodation Service at a centre in Killarney for a number of months (irishtimes.com)
  • otherKelley worked in a number of jobs in Maine before coming to Ireland (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 22 Jun2026
    In courtirishtimes.com, follow-up
    Former US soldier accused of murdering Kerry farmer Michael Gaine to go on trial next year

    Trial scheduled for January 2027 at the Criminal Courts of Justice, Dublin; 191 witnesses expected; 8–9 week trial; Judge Paul McDermott assigned it to Dublin rather than Cork due to its length; Kelley appeared via video-link from prison.

    victim, Michael Gaine, irish (judged from name)Michael Gaineaccused, Michael Kelley, 54, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Michael Kelley