Ireland Case No. 3720Murder · Co. Kerry · 20 Mar 2025
Michael Kelley charged with murder of Kerry farmer Michael Gaine
Michael Kelley, 54, a former US soldier, was charged with the murder of 56-year-old Kerry farmer Michael Gaine after being arrested at his residence in Tralee on 24 February 2026 and held at Castleisland Garda Station. He appeared in court in Tralee on 25 February 2026 after the DPP directed his charging.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrested24 Feb
5 reports - Charged25 Feb
4 reports - In court25 Feb
- Verdict
- Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports154 statements extracted from the articles
- whatMichael Gaine, 56, was reported missing from his home near Kenmare, Co. Kerry, on 21 March 2025. (corkbeo.ie)
- whatGaine was believed to have been killed at his farm outside Kenmare on or around 20 March 2025. (corkbeo.ie)
- whatGaine's dismembered remains were found on his farm on 16 May 2025. (corkbeo.ie)
- whatGaine was killed before his body was dismembered and the remains were dumped in a slurry pit in a shed on his own farm. (corkbeo.ie)
- whatFamily and friends discovered what they suspected was bits of human tissue while drawing slurry from the pit on 16 May 2025. (corkbeo.ie)
- whatGardaí sealed off the farm and recovered the bulk of Gaine's remains in the slurry tank. (corkbeo.ie)
- whatThe case was initially treated as a missing person's case and later upgraded to a homicide case on 29 April 2025. (corkbeo.ie)
- whatMichael Kelley, 54, was rearrested at his residence in Tralee on 24 February 2026 on suspicion of murder. (corkbeo.ie)
- whatKelley was arrested by gardai from the Kerry Division and specialist detectives from the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation. (corkbeo.ie, irishmirror.ie)
- whatKelley is a former American soldier originally from Maine in the north-east of the United States. (corkbeo.ie)
- whatKelley was first arrested on suspicion of murder on 18 May 2025 and released without charge on 19 May 2025. (corkbeo.ie)
- whatKelley denies any involvement in Gaine's death. (corkbeo.ie)
- whatKelley claimed he was being framed for the murder by gangsters involved in organised crime. (corkbeo.ie)
- whatA man in his 50s was arrested in Tralee shortly after 7.30am on Tuesday 24 February 2026 for questioning about the murder of Michael Gaine. (irishtimes.com)
- whatGaine's Toyota Rav4 was found in the farmyard with his phone and wallet in the vehicle. (irishtimes.com)
- whatOn May 16th, 2025, a relative of Gaine noticed what appeared to be body parts while spreading slurry on the farm. (irishtimes.com)
- whatMichael Kelley was rearrested on suspicion of the murder of Michael Gaine (irishmirror.ie)
- whatGaine was killed at his farm outside Kenmare on or around 20 March 2025 (irishmirror.ie)
- whatGaine was last seen at a shop in Kenmare on the day he was killed (irishmirror.ie)
- whatGaine was reported missing from his home near Kenmare on Friday 21 March 2025 (irishmirror.ie)
- whatGaine's dismembered remains were found in a slurry pit in a shed on his own farm on 16 May 2025 (irishmirror.ie)
- whatFamily and friends discovered the remains while drawing slurry from the pit on 16 May 2025 (irishmirror.ie)
- whatHe was described as approximately 5'10" with a stocky build, brown/grey hair and a bushy beard. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatHe was wearing an orange woolly hat, black fleece, blue jeans and black boots. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatHe drove a brown RAV Jeep with registration 152 KY 366. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatOver 250 volunteers from the local community, Coast Guard, Civil Defence, gardaí and Kerry Mountain Rescue participated in the search. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatKelley was seen busking in the centre of Tralee on 22 May 2025. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatKelley denied any involvement in the death of Mr Gaine on 23 May 2025. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatInvestigators seized a bow and arrows and a hatchet from a cave on the farmland on 4 April 2025. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatMichael Kelley is 54 years old (irishmirror.ie)
- whatKelley is a former soldier in the US Army (irishmirror.ie)
- whatKelley is a self-admitted suspect in the murder of Michael Gaine (irishmirror.ie)
- whatKelley has publicly admitted to being an illegal immigrant in Ireland (irishmirror.ie)
- whatKelley applied for asylum claiming he faced unjust persecution in the USA (irishmirror.ie)
- whatHis asylum application was unsuccessful and he was served with a deportation order in 2025 (irishmirror.ie)
- whatKelley was a farmhand for Michael Gaine (irishmirror.ie)
- whatKelley denies involvement and claims he is being framed (irishmirror.ie)
- whatMost of Michael Gaine's remains were recovered from a slurry tank on his property (irishmirror.ie)
- whatGaine was a Kerry sheep farmer who disappeared from his farm near Kenmare almost a year ago (irishtimes.com)
- whatMichael Kelley, 54, was charged in connection with the death of Michael Gaine (irishmirror.ie)
- whatMichael Gaine was a 56-year-old Kerry farmer (irishmirror.ie)
- whatMichael Kelley is 54 years old and a US national. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatGaine was described as approximately 5'10" with a stocky build, brown/grey hair and a bushy beard. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatGaine was wearing an orange woolly hat, black fleece, blue jeans and black boots in CCTV footage. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatGaine's vehicle was a brown RAV Jeep with registration 152 KY 366. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatGaine was a well-known sheep farmer who frequented the Kenmare Co-Op mart weekly. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatGaine was a rally car driving enthusiast and was known to be well travelled. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatMichael Kelley, 54, was charged in connection with the murder of Michael Gaine (corkbeo.ie)
- whatMichael Gaine was a farmer who operated a farm in the Carrig East area of Kenmare (corkbeo.ie)
- whereGaine was last seen at a shop in Kenmare on the day he went missing. (corkbeo.ie)
- whereKelley lived on Gaine's farm at Carrig East, about 8km outside Kenmare, working in return for lodgings. (corkbeo.ie)
- whereKelley has been living in the Tralee area since his release from Garda custody in May 2025. (corkbeo.ie, irishmirror.ie)
- whereKelley was arrested at his residence in Tralee, Co Kerry (irishmirror.ie)
- whereHis last confirmed sighting was in the Centra store in Kenmare. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereHis farm is over 1,000 acres located next to Molls Gap. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereHis home is near Lissyclearig, just outside Kenmare, roughly 3km from his farm. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereAn incident room was set up at Killarney Garda Station. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereKelley is originally from Maine, in the United States (irishmirror.ie)
- whereKelley lived at one point in a sophisticated campsite in a forest (irishmirror.ie)
- whereKelley later lived in a disused farmhouse on Michael Gaine's property (irishmirror.ie)
- whereMichael Kelley lives at Chapel Street, Tralee, Co Kerry (corkbeo.ie)
- whereGaine disappeared from his thousand-acre farm in Carrig East, in Molls Gap, Kenmare, Co Kerry (corkbeo.ie)
- whereKelley's address is Chapel Street, Tralee, Co Kerry. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe murder is alleged to have occurred at Gaine's farm in Carrig East in Molls Gap, Kenmare. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereKelley was arrested at his home in Tralee (corkbeo.ie)
- whenMichael Gaine is believed to have vanished on the morning of 20 March 2025. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenCCTV footage showed him at the store at 9:48am purchasing phone credit. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe case was upgraded from a missing person investigation to a homicide investigation on 29 April 2025. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenKelley was released without charge at around 10:40pm on 19 May 2025. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenMichael Kelley was re-arrested on 24 February 2026 on suspicion of the Kerry farmer's murder. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenIrish Defence Forces personnel began assisting in the search on 1 April 2025. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenKelley arrived in Ireland in 2017 (irishmirror.ie)
- whenMichael Gaine was laid to rest in June 2025 at Holy Cross Church, Kenmare (irishmirror.ie)
- whenKelley was arrested at his residence in Tralee on Tuesday at around 7.30am (irishmirror.ie)
- whenGaine disappeared on a date unknown between March 20 and 21, 2025 (corkbeo.ie)
- whenGaine was last seen at a Centra shop on Kenmare on the morning of March 20 (corkbeo.ie)
- whenThe murder is alleged to have occurred on a date unknown between 20 and 21 March 2025. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenGaine was last seen at a Centra shop in Kenmare on the morning of 20 March 2025. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenKelley was arrested early on 24 February 2026 (corkbeo.ie)
- whenMichael Gaine was reported missing by his wife on 21 March 2025 (corkbeo.ie)
- causeThe investigation was upgraded to a homicide when Gaine's remains were found in a slurry tank on the property (corkbeo.ie)
- investigationThe investigation is led by Serious Crime Unit Kerry Division and supported by the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation. (corkbeo.ie, irishmirror.ie)
- investigationDetectives can detain Kelley for up to 24 hours. (corkbeo.ie)
- investigationThe man is detained under section four of the Criminal Justice Act, allowing up to 24 hours before charge or release. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe arrest was made by the Kerry Serious Crime team with support from the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation and the Armed Support Unit. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationSenior local officers in Kerry reviewed the case with NBICI colleagues the previous month and decided to arrest the suspect. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationExtensive searches of the 1,000-acre holding by gardaí and the Defence Forces found no trace of the missing farmer. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationA search of a slurry tank by the Garda Water Unit found further human remains later confirmed as those of Gaine. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationKelley was arrested in Tralee on May 18th, 2025, questioned for 24 hours at Killarney Garda station, and released without charge. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationKelley was first arrested on suspicion of murder on 18 May 2025 (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationKelley was released without charge on 19 May 2025 (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationKelley is detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984 (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationKelley was arrested and questioned in connection with Gaine's murder in May 2025 but released without charge (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationMichael Kelley was re-arrested by armed gardaí at an address in Tralee, Co. Kerry, on 24 February 2026 (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationDetectives have up to 24 hours to detain Kelley (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationKelley was held at Castleisland Garda Station in Co Kerry since Tuesday morning (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe case was upgraded to homicide on April 29 last year (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationPartial human remains were discovered on Gaine's land on May 16 (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe remains were later identified as being those of the missing farmer (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationKelley was arrested on May 18 but released without charge the following day (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationDetective Sergeant Mark O'Sullivan gave evidence of the arrest charge and caution (corkbeo.ie)
- investigationGardaí initially treated Gaine's disappearance as a missing person's case (corkbeo.ie)
- investigationThe case was upgraded to a homicide case on April 29 (corkbeo.ie)
- investigationGaine's dismembered remains were found on his land on May 16 (corkbeo.ie)
- investigationKelley was arrested at Castleisland Garda Station at 2:23pm on Wednesday. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationKelley was arrested on Tuesday in the Tralee area and questioned over a 24-hour period at Castleisland Garda Station. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationA massive search involved over 200 volunteers, the Civil Defence, Coast Guard, Defence Forces, a garda helicopter and multiple Garda units. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe case was upgraded to a homicide investigation on 29 April 2025. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationKelley was held overnight at a local Garda station for questioning (corkbeo.ie)
- investigationKelley was previously arrested in connection with the investigation and released without charge on 19 May 2025 (corkbeo.ie)
- investigationHundreds of volunteers, defence forces and Gardaí participated in a search of the land (corkbeo.ie)
- chargeKelley was charged with the murder of Gaine at Carrig East, Kenmare, between 20 and 21 March 2025 (irishtimes.com)
- chargeThe DPP gave directions to charge Kelley (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeKelley is charged with the murder of Michael Gaine, 56 (corkbeo.ie)
- chargeMichael Kelley was charged with the murder of Michael Gaine. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeKelley was formally charged at 3:06pm. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtKelley was remanded in custody at Tralee District Court (irishtimes.com)
- courtJudge David Waters remanded Kelley in custody to appear at Tralee District Court on March 4th by video-link (irishtimes.com)
- courtKelley was granted free legal aid and assigned solicitor Pat Mann (irishtimes.com)
- courtKelley appeared in court in Tralee, Co Kerry, on Wednesday afternoon (irishmirror.ie)
- courtKelley appeared before Tralee District Court on 25 February 2026 (corkbeo.ie)
- courtJudge David Waters presided over the hearing (corkbeo.ie)
- courtThe hearing lasted three minutes (corkbeo.ie)
- courtKelley was charged with murder at Castleisland Garda station at 3:06pm (corkbeo.ie)
- courtKelley is to be tried on indictment (corkbeo.ie)
- courtKelley was remanded to 4 March to appear via video link (corkbeo.ie)
- courtJudge David Waters ordered a trial on indictment. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtKelley was remanded into custody. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtNo bail hearing was held as a person charged with murder must go before the High Court for bail. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtKelley will next appear via video link for the serving of the book of evidence. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtKelley is due to appear before Tralee District Court on 25 February 2026 (corkbeo.ie)
- otherKelley's solicitor Pat Mann said gardai had no evidence against his client and that the first arrest was not justifiable. (corkbeo.ie)
- otherMichael Kelley had been living at the old Gaine family homestead at Carhoo East, where Gaine paid him €100 a week and allowed him to live rent-free. (irishtimes.com)
- otherKelley was working on the farm in return for lodgings (irishmirror.ie)
- otherKelley denies any involvement in Gaine's death and claims he is being framed by organised crime (irishmirror.ie)
- otherKelley made no reply to the charge when it was put to him after caution at 3.06pm (irishtimes.com)
- otherKelley is a native of Maine in northeastern United States (irishtimes.com)
- otherKelley served in the US army in the early 1990s (irishtimes.com)
- otherKelley came to Ireland in 2017 (irishtimes.com)
- otherKelley applied for asylum on arrival at Dublin Airport (irishtimes.com)
- otherKelley was accommodated by IPAS at a centre in Killarney for a number of months (irishtimes.com)
- otherKelley first lived in woods in the National Park in Killarney (irishtimes.com)
- otherKelley later spent a winter camping in woods in Kenmare (irishtimes.com)
- otherKelley obtained work as a farmhand (irishtimes.com)
- otherKelley is a former US soldier (irishmirror.ie)
- otherKelley claimed he was being framed by organised crime figures (irishmirror.ie)
- otherKelley has repeatedly denied any involvement in the death (irishmirror.ie)
- otherMichael Kelley is an American national (corkbeo.ie)
- otherMichael Kelley is 53 years old (corkbeo.ie)
- otherKelley remained silent in court (corkbeo.ie)
- otherKelley made no reply to the charge after being cautioned (corkbeo.ie)
- otherGaine's wife Janice and other family members were present in court (corkbeo.ie)
- otherKelley has repeatedly denied any involvement in the death of Michael Gaine (corkbeo.ie)
- otherThis is the first time any individual has been charged in connection with the murder investigation (corkbeo.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 26 Feb2026Man (50s) charged in connection with Michael Gaine murder probe
First person charged in connection with the murder of Michael Gaine. Kelley was previously arrested and released without charge on 19 May 2025.
victim, Michael Gaine, male, irish (judged from name)Michael Gaineaccused, Michael Kelley, 54, male, named, irish (judged from name)Michael Kelley - 25 Feb2026Michael Kelley appears in court charged with murder of farmer Michael Gaine
First court appearance after charge; Judge David Waters ordered a trial on indictment and remanded Kelley in custody; no bail hearing as murder defendants must go before the High Court for bail.
accused, Michael Kelley, 54, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Michael Kelleyvictim, Michael Gaine, male, irish (judged from name)Michael Gaine - 25 Feb2026Michael Kelley appears in court charged with murder of farmer Michael Gaine
First court appearance of Michael Kelley, charged with murder of Michael Gaine. Remanded to 4 March 2026 for video link appearance. Details of the disappearance, upgrade to homicide, and discovery of remains provided.
accused, Michael Kelley, 53, male, American, named, non-irishMichael Kelleyvictim, Michael Gaine, 56, male, irish (judged from name)Michael Gaine - 25 Feb2026Michael Kelley charged in connection with probe into death of Michael Gaine
Reports that Kelley was charged with murder after a second arrest, following his initial arrest and release without charge in May 2025. Details the timeline of the investigation from missing person case to homicide, the discovery of partial remains, and the DPP's direction to charge.
victim, Michael Gaine, 56, male, irish (judged from name)Michael Gaineaccused, Michael Kelley, 54, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Michael Kelley - 25 Feb2026American Michael Kelley charged with murder of Kerry farmer Michael Gaine
First court appearance where Kelley was charged with murder and remanded in custody; background on his arrival in Ireland in 2017 and time spent in Killarney and Kenmare provided.
suspect, Michael Kelley, 54, male, American, named, non-irishMichael Kelleyvictim, Michael Gaine, male, irish (judged from name)Michael Gaine - 24 Feb2026Everything you need to know: Man re-arrested in Michael Gaine murder probe
Reports the re-arrest of Michael Kelley on 24 February 2026 and provides background on his history as a US Army veteran, his failed asylum claim, his time living on Gaine's property, and his earlier arrest and release in May 2025.
victim, Michael Gaine, male, irish (judged from name)Michael Gainesuspect, Michael Kelley, 54, male, American, named at arrest, non-irishMichael Kelley - 24 Feb2026Michael Gaine: from murder probe to ex-American soldier chief suspect arrest
Comprehensive chronological timeline of the Gaine murder case from disappearance to the re-arrest of chief suspect Michael Kelley on 24 February 2026, including details of searches, the upgrade to homicide, discovery of remains, and Kelley's initial arrest and release in May 2025.
victim, Michael Gaine, 56, male, irish (judged from name)Michael Gainesuspect, Michael Kelley, 54, male, American, named at arrest, non-irishMichael Kelley - 24 Feb2026American rearrested on suspicion of murder of Kerry farmer Michael Gaine
Reports the rearrest of Michael Kelley on 24 February 2026, details of his previous arrest and release in May 2025, how Gaine's dismembered remains were discovered in a slurry pit on 16 May 2025, and statements from Kelley and his solicitor Pat Mann.
victim, Michael Gaine, 56, male, irish (judged from name)Michael Gainesuspect, Michael Kelley, 54, male, American, named at arrest, non-irishMichael Kelley - 24 Feb2026Man arrested for questioning about murder of Co Kerry sheep farmer Michael Gaine
Second arrest in the case; new circumstantial evidence discovered; case reviewed by senior Kerry officers and NBICI the previous month; Gaine's remains were found dismembered in a slurry tank on his farm in May 2025.
victim, Michael Gaine, 56, male, irish (judged from name)Michael Gainesuspect, 50s, malesuspect, Michael Kelley, male, American, named at arrest, non-irishMichael Kelley - 24 Feb2026American man Michael Kelley rearrested over murder of Kerry farmer Michael Gaine
Reports the rearrest of Kelley on 24 February 2026, his background as a former US soldier living on Gaine's farm, details of the discovery of Gaine's dismembered remains in a slurry pit in May 2025, his first arrest and release in May 2025, and his solicitor Pat Mann's comments that gardai had no evidence against him.
victim, Michael Gaine, 56, male, irish (judged from name)Michael Gainesuspect, Michael Kelley, 54, male, American, named at arrest, non-irishMichael Kelley