Gardaí have confirmed material recovered as part of the investigation into the disappearance of Kerry farmer Mike Gaine are partial human remains.
They say searches are ongoing to recover any further human remains, but DNA analysis will be required to determine if the human tissue recovered is that of Mr Gaine.
The investigation into the 56-year-old farmer's death is being dealt with as a homicide.
This afternoon, State Pathologist, Dr Sally Anne Collis and Forensic Anthropologist Laureen Buckley, assisted by the Garda Technical Bureau, conducted preliminary examinations at the scene.
"An Garda Síochána can confirm that partial human remains have been found," a garda spokesman said.
Several vehicles entered the farmyard just after 2pm.
Gardaí confirmed that an area of land, close to Mr Gaine's farmyard, has been designated as a crime scene and have sealed off an area close to the farmyard where he went missing in Kenmare eight weeks ago.
Gardaí have confirmed that partial human remains have been found in the investigation into the disappearance of Kerry farmer Mike Gaine. They say searches are ongoing to recover further human remains. DNA analysis will be required to carry out formal identification. @rtenews pic.twitter.com/QRW3M9E7Nd
— Paschal Sheehy (@PaschalSheehy) May 17, 2025
The area is understood to be in a field on Mr Gaine's land, close to the farmyard at Carraig East, around 6km from Kenmare.
The farm straddles the Ring of Kerry road, between Kenmare and Moll's Gap.
Mr Gaine has been missing since 20 March.
He was formally reported missing the following day on 21 March.
For six weeks, his disappearance was treated by gardaí as a missing person's case. However, on 29 April, the investigation was reclassified as a homicide.
The re-classification of the investigation followed an assessment by gardaí heading up the investigation that Mr Gaine was dead and that he died by homicide.
Homicide covers the possibility that Mr Gaine may have been murdered as well as the possibility that he died as a result of the actions of another, even if those actions were not intentional, manslaughter, for instance.
Investigations by the garda team involved have been in-depth and extensive, ruling out "innocent" explanations, such as that Mr Gaine had an accident or a medical event and died; that he left the area voluntarily, told nobody and concealed his exit; or that he took his life.
At the time gardaí announced the re-classification of their investigation, they said they had completed 320 individual enquiries or "jobs"; almost 130 witness statements had been taken; around 2,200 hours of CCTV and dashcam footage had been recovered; and hundreds of acres of farmland had been searched, by trained search teams, using drones and by specially-trained search and rescue dogs and cadaver dogs.
Confirmation that this was a criminal investigation placed a whole range of new investigative tools at the disposal of the investigating team.
It meant, for instance, gardaí could designate certain areas as crime scenes, close them off and examine them forensically.
They could direct people to leave those areas and, subject to court approval, they could have reasonable time to search and examine those areas.
A missing person's investigation operates on the basis of consent, with the goodwill of people involved.
Now that the investigation into Mr Gaine's disappearance is a criminal, homicide investigation, gardaí could go to court and secure court orders and warrants to seize and examine certain items, such as mobile phones and laptops.
They could also get warrants to search homes and other properties.
Re-classification meant the range of options in front of the investigation team significantly increased.
In their statement announcing the re-classification of the investigation, gardaí stressed that they had not recovered Mr Gaine's body and they renewed their appeal for information to assist them in his return.
The statement also explicitly stated that gardaí believed there were people who know what happened to Mr Gaine on 20 March.
They specifically appealed to people who may have felt they were not in a position to speak to the investigation team about information they had, or people who may have spoken to gardaí but may have more to say, to come forward now and speak to the investigating team.
The homicide investigation is being led by a senior investigating officer and involves the Kerry Garda Division Serious Crime Unit Kerry.
Gardaí say the investigation is ongoing, and that it is being supported by Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation.
