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. 11242Murder · Co. Kerry

Man re-arrested over murder of Michael Gaine, Kenmare, Kerry

Michael 'Mike' Gaine, a 56-year-old farmer from Kenmare, Kerry, was first reported missing on 21 March 2025. In May 2025, partial human remains were found at his farm and his death was declared a murder, and a man who had been staying on the farm was arrested and questioned shortly after. The chief suspect, a man in his 50s, was re-arrested on the morning of Tuesday 24 February 2026 after gardaí found new evidence and taken to Castleisland garda station, where he can be questioned for up to 24 hours, excluding rest periods.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrested1 Feb
  3. Charged
  4. In court
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Michael 'Mike' Gaine, aged 56, was a farmer from Kenmare, Kerry.
  • Gaine's death was declared a murder in May 2025.
When
  • Gaine was first reported missing on 21 March 2025.
  • The chief suspect was re-arrested on the morning of Tuesday 24 February 2026.
Where
  • Partial human remains were found at Gaine's farm and gardaí confirmed this in May 2025.
  • The man was taken to Castleisland garda station.
Investigation
  • Gardaí suspected from early in the investigation that Gaine was a murder victim.
  • A man who had been staying on the farm was arrested and questioned shortly after the remains were found.
  • Gardaí re-arrested the suspect because they had found new evidence.
  • The investigation is led by the Serious Crime Unit Kerry Division and supported by the GNBCI.
Other details
  • The chief suspect is a man in his 50s.
  • The man can be questioned for a maximum of 24 hours, excluding rest periods.
  • Source dates differ: one record dates the article 1 February 2026, while the article itself is stamped 8.49am, 24 February 2026.
Charges
The sources report no charge against the man so far.
11 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatGardaí re-arrested the chief suspect in the murder of Kenmare farmer Michael Gaine. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatMichael Gaine's death was declared a murder in May 2025 when his remains were found near his farm. (thejournal.ie)
  • whereThe man was taken to a garda station in Castleisland. (thejournal.ie)
  • whenMichael Gaine was first reported missing on 21 March 2025. (thejournal.ie)
  • whenThe man was arrested on the morning of Tuesday 24 February 2026. (thejournal.ie)
  • investigationGardaí confirmed in May 2025 that partial human remains had been found at the missing man's farm. (thejournal.ie)
  • investigationGardaí suspected from early in the investigation that Gaine was a murder victim. (thejournal.ie)
  • investigationA man who had been staying on the farm was arrested and questioned shortly after the body was found. (thejournal.ie)
  • investigationGardaí re-arrested the suspect because they had found new evidence. (thejournal.ie)
  • investigationThe investigation is led by Serious Crime Unit Kerry Division and supported by the GNBCI. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherThe man can be questioned for a maximum of 24 hours, excluding rest periods. (thejournal.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 1 Feb2026
    Arrestedthejournal.ie, first report
    Gardaí in Kerry re-arrest chief suspect in Michael Gaine murder probe

    First report of the re-arrest of the chief suspect on 24 February 2026, after new evidence was found. Gives background on Gaine's disappearance, the May 2025 discovery of remains and the earlier questioning of a suspect.

    victim, Michael Gaine, 56, male, irish (judged from name)Michael Gainesuspect, 50s, male