MICHAEL Gaine’s family are “going through pure torture” and locals in Kenmare are “struggling” two weeks since the missing farmer was last seen.
And the lack of developments, despite massive land and water searches, in the mysterious disappearance of the 56-year-old is making the case “all the more peculiar”, locals said.
There has been no communication from Michael since he was last seen buying credit in the Centra in Kenmare on March 20 and left in his bronze RAV4, registration 152 KY 366.
The vehicle was found parked at his farmyard outside Kenmare with personal items such as his wallet and the credit he had purchased in the shop found inside.
However, the CCTV footage of Michael in the store just before 10am on March 20, 2025 is the last known sighting of him.
Intensive searches were launched by Gardai, who have held a permanent presence in the area since the disappearance, on March 21 when the cow and sheep farmer was reported missing.
And 50 Defence Forces troops were brought in earlier this week from the 12th Infantry Battalion in Limerick and the 3rd Infantry Battalion in Kilkenny.
However, Fine Gael councillor Teddy O’Sullivan Casey told The Irish Sun today “there has been no development” following the searches.
He said: “People don’t know what to think really. It’s just a pure waiting game at the moment.”
Casey explained that the town are finding it difficult to “come to terms” with Michael’s disappearance.
He told us: “People are struggling, I suppose, to come to terms with it”
“But, you know, we still have to have hope that something will be found for the family’s sake because they’re going through pure torture at the moment.”
Gardai, Civil Defence, the Coast Guard, Kerry Mountain Rescue and up to 250 local volunteers are among the agencies now involved in the massive operation.
Trained sniffer dogs have also been utilised in the probe, which is still being treated as a missing person’s case, and the Garda helicopter and drones have been involved in aerial surveys.
Michael’s family have had no contact from him and his family and Gardai are extremely concerned for his well-being.”
Superintendent David O’Callaghan
The Garda Water Unit has also tasked divers to search a number of nearby lakes and a disused quarry.
Checkpoints were also set up across Kenmare in a fresh information appeal.
The Defence Forces joined the search on Tuesday as it moved to higher and more dangerous ground.
A spokesman for the military told The Irish Sun they were “engaged in a supporting capacity as part of our Aid to the Civil Power role, as this operation is led by An Garda Siochana”.
Extensive searches of Michael’s farmyard have been carried out while a number of slurry tanks on the land were emptied and searched.
Diggers were used to excavate land on the farm and ground searches over many kilometres of the surrounding areas were carried out.
‘ALL THE MORE PECULIAR’
But, despite the extensive searches, no trace of Michael has been found – which local man Teddy O’Sullivan Casey told us makes the case “more peculiar”.
He said: “The guards have put massive resources, the army and all the volunteer agencies.
“There has been massive, massive resources put in over the last two weeks.
“It makes it all the more peculiar, when there is nothing found.”
He added: “The main thing is for the community to stick together now and hope for the best, that the guards will turn up something.”
CONTINUING GARDA APPEAL
Gardai are continuing to request any footage or images from Kenmare and Moll’s Gap on the Ring of Kerry from Thursday March 20, 2025.
They also want to speak to people who travelled on the road on that day when Michael was last seen.
Superintendent David O’Callaghan of Tralee Garda Station, who’s leading the investigation, made a fresh appeal to the public this week.
He said: “Michael bought phone credit in the Centra in Kenmare at 9.48am. Michael then left in his bronze coloured RAV4 registration 152 KY 366.
“This vehicle was found parked in his farmyard, just off the N71 at Carrig East. It is now [two weeks] since the last sighting of Michael Gaine.
“Michael’s family have had no contact from him and his family and Gardai are extremely concerned for his well-being.
“Michael is described as being approximately 5ft 10ins tall with a stocky build, brown/grey hair and a bushy beard. When last seen, Michael was wearing an orange woolly hat, black fleece, blue jeans and black boots.
“Searches have been carried out at Michael’s farmyard and in the immediate vicinity.
“An Garda Siochana continues to work with and is fully supported by other state and voluntary agencies in our ongoing efforts to locate Michael.”
