US forensic experts assist gardaí in Michael Gaine murder investigation in Kenmare, Co Kerry
Kerry farmer Michael Gaine, 56, was found dismembered in a slurry tank on his farm at Carrig East, near Kenmare, Co Kerry, after his wife Janice reported him missing on 21 March 2025. Gardaí believe he was murdered in the cattle shed on 20 March, and the case was upgraded to a murder inquiry on 29 April. US citizen Michael Kelley, 53, who lived at the old farmhouse on the property, was arrested but released without charge. In the latest development, US forensic experts Suzanna Ryan and Jared Bradley deployed M Vac technology at the scene at the end of July, Dutch investigators used drone equipment to search the 404-hectare farm for soil disturbance, and blood samples recovered proved to be bovine.
- Reported27 Sep
- Arrested
- Charged
- In court
- Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Michael Gaine, 56, a Kerry farmer, was found dismembered in a slurry tank beneath the slatted unit on his farm.
- Where
- The cattle shed is at Carrig East, 6 km from Kenmare, Co Kerry, where Gaine lived with his wife Janice.
- When
- Gardaí believe Gaine was murdered on 20 March 2025, and his wife reported him missing on 21 March.
- Human tissue was recovered on 16 May when an agriculture contractor found it while spreading slurry.
- The case was upgraded to a murder inquiry on 29 April 2025.
- Investigation
- US forensic expert Suzanna Ryan and M Vac chief executive Jared Bradley came to Ireland at the end of July to use M Vac technology to recover minute particles of blood in the shed.
- Dutch investigators used specialised drone equipment to detect soil disturbance over the 404-hectare farm.
- US citizen Michael Kelley, 53, who lived at the old farmhouse at Carrig East, was arrested but released without charge.
- Other details
- Blood samples recovered at the scene proved to be bovine blood from calving when tested at Forensic Science Ireland in Kildare.
- Knives were found on the property.
12 statements extracted from the articles
- whatGaine's body was dismembered and disposed of in the slurry tank beneath the slatted unit. (irishtimes.com)
- whereGaine lived at Carhoomengar with his wife Janice. (irishtimes.com)
- whenGardaí believe Gaine was murdered on 20 March in the cattle shed. (irishtimes.com)
- whenHuman tissue was recovered on 16 May when an agriculture contractor found it while spreading slurry. (irishtimes.com)
- whenJanice Gaine reported him missing on 21 March. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe case was upgraded to a murder inquiry on 29 April. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationGardaí requested the assistance of American forensic experts in the Gaine murder investigation. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationUS forensic expert Suzanna Ryan and M Vac chief executive Jared Bradley came to Ireland at the end of July. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationSuzanna Ryan recovered minute particles of blood in the shed using M Vac technology. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationDutch investigators used specialised drone equipment to detect soil disturbance over the 404-hectare farm. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationUS citizen Michael Kelley, 53, who lived at the old farmhouse at Carrig East, was arrested but released without charge. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe blood samples proved to be bovine blood from calving when tested at Forensic Science Ireland in Kildare. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 27 Sep2025US forensic experts assist gardaí in Mike Gaine murder investigation
Details the deployment of US forensic experts with M Vac DNA technology at the crime scene, the bovine blood result from Forensic Science Ireland, the Dutch drone soil-disturbance search over the 404-hectare farm, the knives found on the property, and the release of US citizen Michael Kelley without charge.
victim, Michael Gaine, 56, male, irish (judged from name)Michael Gainesuspect, Michael Kelley, 53, male, American, named, non-irishMichael Kelley