Gardai are investigating claims that a man was seen working on a jeep belonging to missing man Michael Gaine on the day he was reported missing.
Officers investigating the baffling disappearance of Michael ‘Mike’ Gaine from his farmyard in Kenmare, Co Kerry, have interviewed several witnesses and are understood to be probing claims that a man was seen fixing up his Toyota Rav4 jeep on the morning of Friday, March 21.
The jeep, which contained the missing man’s seemingly abandoned phone and wallet was subsequently seized by officers later that day and taken away for forensic testing. Sources say a number of people close to Mike went to his farm, located near Molls Gap and just outside Kenmare town, just before midday on the Friday - after he had not been seen since the Thursday morning.
Upon arrival at the yard they discovered a man known to Mike underneath the jeep - who appeared to be fixing the brake pads of the vehicle. The man greeted them and they continued to search the yard - but found no sign of Mike - and at that point did not realise his phone or wallet were left in the vehicle.
Sources say gardai are investigating the claims - which they stressed could be totally innocent and have nothing to do with what happened to the missing man - but say it is also potentially a significant incident in the ever expanding investigation. The jeep is among a number of vehicles seized from the yard - as well as a bow and arrows and a hatchet which were discovered inside a cave on the vast 1,000 acre land owned by the missing man.
Again sources have stressed that gardai do not necessarily believe the weapons - which could have been used for recreational and other purposes, have anything to do with the still unexplained disappearance.
It comes as the search for Mike Gaine now enters its fourth week without answers - and days after the Superintendent leading the investigation admitted that gardai are “no closer” to finding out what happened to the missing man. And speaking to this paper today, local TD and Minister of State for Agriculture Michael Healy Rae said it appears that investigators, while doing their level best, are now desperate for answers. “It’s like as if they’re putting their hands up in desperation and they’re no nearer. But it’s not their fault, they’re doing everything they can and are throwing every resource at it,” he told us.
"I feel so sorry for everybody who has been involved in the search because they have just been so diligent but it’s just failing.”
Deputy Healy Rae, who also knew the missing man, said he spent Saturday night in Kenmare - and says the baffling mystery is all that is on everyone’s tongue.
“I was out in Kenmare last night and I met a lot of people and you know it’s still the number one subject on everybody’s mind. It’s the first thing that comes out of everybody- you know my goodness what happened, what are we missing, how could this happen? We are all just completely bewildered and confused and upset. People are saying this is one of the most modern up to date mysteries we have and they are just desperately wanting an answer.”
Speaking to the media outside Kenmare Garda Station on Friday, Superintendent Dave Callaghan 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,” he said.
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,” he said.
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 Defence 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.”
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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