The senior Garda leading the investigation into the disappearance of Kerry farmer Michael Gaine has appealed for him to come forward “if he is alive.”
Speaking to the media outside Kenmare Garda Station on Friday, Superintendent Dave Callaghan also acknowledged that this was a “unique” missing persons case and “probably one of the largest searches we've conducted in the Kerry division in recent times.”
Asked by the media if gardai suspect that Michael (56), who seemingly vanished without a trace from his farm yard just outside of Kenmare on March 20 may still be alive, the Superintendent said: “We haven't recovered Michael. This is still a missing persons investigation. So I would appeal that if he is alive, that he would contact someone, or that if anyone knows that he's alive or knows his whereabouts, to make contact with gardaí."
The Superintendent said in the three weeks since Michael disappeared gardai have made 230 enquiries, taken 100 statements and garnered over 1,500 hours of CCTV footage.
And he acknowledged that the search, which has involved multiple garda units, helicopters, drones, the Civil Defence, Defence Forces, Coast Guard and over 250 volunteers has been challenging amid mountainous and dense terrain.
“Well, look, every, every missing person investigation is, obviously, investigated, and it depends on the information you have and the circumstances surrounding it. It (this case) is unique. We are three weeks into it, and we don't, we don't know his whereabouts, and that is unique. It's challenging as well too,” he said.
“The searches are continuing at this time, and they will continue into the weekend and into early next week, and that's reviewed on a daily basis, indeed, from the incident room. So to say that we're still searching, I think probably highlights, I suppose, you know, I suppose the mystery in relation to Michael Gaine’s whereabouts, and that is, that is challenging, and we were not any closer to finding him than we were.”
Asked about items that were found on Michael’s farmland last week - which included a bow and arrows and a hatchet, the senior garda stated: “So as you were aware, obviously extensive searches have gone on in the immediate area of Michael Gaines farmyard and the surrounding lands. Items were discovered, and we have taken them into our possession. I'm not going to comment in relation to the relevance, if any, in relation to the whereabouts of Michael.”
He stated there were other items that he was not going to be specific about and cited that he did not want to add to “rumors and speculation” that are “widespread within the community.”
The Superintendent further stated that Michael Gaine’s “extremely concerned” family have appealed for privacy at this time: “Yeah, the family are obviously extremely concerned. They have asked for privacy at this time, and I think you know, for that to be respected, it's a very difficult time."
Asked if there was any one particular lead that was heading gardai in a particular direction in this investigation he said: “I mean, I suppose every, every lead of the 230 are important. One is as important as the next. And again, as I answered already, we haven't recovered, or we haven't located Michael. We don't know where his whereabouts are. His family are extremely concerned, and we are extremely concerned."
Put to him that this was a massive search on a scale that is not typical for a missing persons case he said: “Yeah, look, there's no denying the fact that this is probably one of the largest searches we've conducted in the Kerry division in recent times. And that's highlighted by, you know, the volume of support that we've received from agencies such as the Civil Defence, the Coast Guard unit, the Coast Guard helicopter, Rescue 115, in addition to the Defense forces, which have come out since the first of April.
“And that's mainly due to the rugged landscape and the difficulty in the terrain that we're dealing with here, surrounding you know? Furthermore, we are, I suppose, three weeks into this missing person case now and we have 230 jobs of lines of inquiry that we're actively pursuing.
“1500 hours of CCTV and dash cam footage, in addition to, close to 100 witness statements. So there's no denying that this is, I suppose, an exceptional investigation.”
In an appeal for information the Superintendent said that gardai are continuing to appeal for the public’s assistance in tracing Michael Gaine. He said that the missing man’s last confirmed public sighting was at 9:48am on March 20 in Centra Kenmare when he purchased phone credit from the store.
His RAV4 jeep was then found parked in the farmyard just off the N71 at Carrig East on the morning of Friday, March 21.
“Over the past three weeks An Garda Siochana has carried out extensive searches and inquiries coordinated from an instant room at Killarney Garda Station and AN Garda Siochana has conducted daily searches since the 22nd of March, 2025 and that has been centered around Michael Gaine’s farmyard, surrounding lands, water sources and roads.
“To date An Garda Siochana has undertaken nearly 230 jobs or inquiries, taken nearly 100 witness statements and recovered approximately 1500 hours of CCTV and dash cam footage.
“The missing persons investigation into the disappearance of Michael Gaine is ongoing and active,” he stated. "Gardai are seeking information from anyone who can assist us in bringing Michael back home to his family. Gardai continue to want to speak to any person who traveled on the N71 on Thursday the 20th of March after 9:48am and or any person who may have camera footage, including dash cam or CCTV or any other images, videos or stills from Thursday the 20th of March and Friday, the 21st of March in the Kenmare town, Molls Gap, N71 area to provide that imagery to the Garda investigation team."
An Garda Síochána continues to appeal to any person who may have any information on Michael's whereabouts to contact Killarney Garda Station on 064 667 1160, the Garda Confidential Line at 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.
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