THE family of a Kerry farmer who has been missing for a full five days are going through “torture” as efforts continue to locate him.
Michael Gaine, 56, was last seen on Thursday morning in Kenmare, not far from his home.
He was reported missing on Friday and Gardai, along with the Coast Guard, the Civil Defence and over 200 volunteers combed the Kenmare area over the weekend in a search for the cattle and sheep farmer.
However, no trace of Michael has been found despite the searches and renewed appeals for information.
Michael has around 1,000 acres of land in the Kenmare area, but he and his wife live outside the town in the Macgillycuddy’s Reeks area.
The popular farmer is also well known in among rally community in Kerry.
Speaking this morning local councillor Dan McCarthy, who is also a neighbour and close family friend of Michael’s told The Irish Sun that there is “a gloom over the town” in the wake of his disappearance.
And speaking on his friend’s character he added that Michael was “always someone you could call if you were in trouble.”
Fine Gael’s Teddy O’Sullivan Casey, who grew up in the Kenmare area, added that Michael would “give you the shirt off his back”.
He told The Irish Sun that the town was in “disbelief” at the disappearance of the “likeable rogue”.
Teddy said: “It’s just unbelievable really. That something like this could happen in our area, in our town.”
“He was a bit of a likeable rogue. Mike, he was always there, he was always around farming. It’s just unbelievable really.”
Teddy continued: “No one can tell us anything. No one knows. No one can tell us for certain.”
And he added the situation has been “torturous” for the famer’s family, who are still reeling from the recent loss of Michael’s mother.
He said: “The family are going through torture, it’s been a torturous week for the family.
“His mother is only buried about six week ago. It’s very, very, very hard on them altogether.”
As gardai focus on locating Michael, we have outlined some of the key questions that have emerged about the case.
WHERE WAS HE LAST SEEN?
Michael was last seen in Kenmare town on Thursday March 20, 2025.
He was captured on CCTV buying phone credit in Centra before 10am.
The man is describing as being 5 feet 10 inches tall with a stocky build, brown/grey hair and a bushy beard, with a stocky build, brown/grey hair and a bushy beard.
When last seen, he was wearing a pair of blue jeans, a black fleece, black boots and an orange wooly hat.
The popular farmer would often be seen out feeding his herds, and concern continues to grow the longer he is absent from that daily routine.
WHERE HAVE GARDAI SEARCHED?
Gardai have so far searched a large area of terrain across the MacGillycuddy’s Reeks with the help of hundreds of volunteers.
More recently the search has remained focused on Michael’s farmlands.
The old Gaine farmhouse and outbuildings, which are also located in the mountainous terrain of the MacGillycuddy’s Reeks, have been searched.
Sniffer dogs were involved in the searches of the rough ground, alongside emergency services.
Aerial searches have taken place on the farm, where gardai have been located since Friday.
It is understood a number of slurry pits were drained over the weekend and yesterday as part of the ongoing missing persons investigation.
A digger was also present at the farm with significant excavation carried out beside farm buildings and an old dwelling house.
Leader of the Kerry Mountain Rescue team Colm Burke told RTE: “there’s approximately 30 members of our team working with the Coast Guard, Civil Defence and the Gardai”.
“The search and rescue dogs are out with us as well. We’re concentrating on an area of rough ground above and below where the man’s farmhouse is located.
“We’ll continue this search until hopefully we find the missing man.”
WHY ARE GARDAI PROBING DASHCAM FOOTAGE?
Officers have urged anyone who may have dash cam footage of a popular beauty spot in Kerry last week to come forward.
Motorists who may have been travelling in the Kenmare or Moll’s Gap area on Thursday or Friday last week have been urged to come forward.
In a renewed appeal yesterday, gardai asked the public: “In particular, Gardai are seeking anyone with camera footage, including dash-cam or CCTV, or any other images (video or still) from Thursday 20th March and Friday 21st March in the Kenmare town / Moll’s Gap (N71/ R568) area to provide that imagery to the Garda investigation team.”
The Moll’s Gap location is just an 11 minute drive from Kenmare town, where Michael was last seen, hence the garda interest in footage from the location.
The scenic spot is also located near the MacGillycuddy’s Reeks mountains where Gardai focused their search over the weekend.
The gorgeous views the spot boasts of the MacGillycuddy Reeks mountains make it popular with tourists travelling the ring of Kerry, who should also pay heed to the appeal.
WHAT IS THE INVESTIGATION FOCUSED ON?
While the investigation is being treated as a missing persons case, gardai have not yet ruled out foul play.
And while they have thanked local volunteers for their time and effort, they have asked members of the public to avoid engaging in land searches for Michael until further notice.
The extensive land searches have been scaled back considerably with the main focus now on his farmlands.
A number of vehicles were removed from the Gaine property by investigating gardai during searches over the weekend, including Michael’s own car.
And the farm remains sealed off today as Gardai continue their investigations.
A final slurry tank on the grounds is expected to be emptied today.
Gardai have asked anyone with 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.
