'Human matter' found inside slurry tank as missing Michael Gaine's farm turns into crime scene

Officers searching for a missing man have declared after human matter was found in a slurry tank.

Gardai in Ireland since he was last seen on March 20 and his wife raised the alarm. Last month the case was upgraded to a homicide probe as investigations continue into his whereabouts. Now in an update on Friday gardai confirmed his farmyard in Carrig East is a crime scene as organic matter was found in a slurry tank, although it is currently unknown if it is animal or from a human as investigations continue.

READ MORE:

The reported Gardai said last night: "An Garda Síochána have this evening re-commenced operations at lands at Carraig East, Kenmare, Co Kerry. An Garda Síochána is not in a position to provide further information at this stage.”

Last month Mr Gaine’s wife, Janice, released a statement saying she “just wants” Michael to come home. She said: “I am Janice Gaine. I am Michael Gaine’s wife. I would just like to say something about Michael, he was my best friend, my husband.

“This whole thing has been devastating. He loved his home, he loved his farm, he loved farming. He loved his animals, he loved rallying.

“He had lots of friends, he was a very popular guy and his disappearance is totally out of character - well we knew that from day one. If there is anybody who has any information about Michael, do please come forward and talk to the gardai. We just want Michael to come home.

“We want to know what happened to him because if we can’t find Michael, I just don’t know what I am going to do and what his family, his sister Noreen…I just want Michael to come home.”

In the midst of the search, it is understood Gardaí recovered a bow and arrows in a cave on the land, but sources say the force is not immediately linking it with the disappearance.

Mart owner and local councillor Dan McCarthy, who is a close pal of the missing farmer, said the search was on a scale he had never seen before. He said: "It is very concerning. His wife and his sisters and extended family are still in our thoughts and prayers, and like all the relevant authorities are still there, suffering as much as they were up at the start.

"I suppose, since I've been alive it's been the biggest mystery in a lifetime around here - that a man can just be missing over such a short space of time and there's no trace of him."