Members of the Defence Forces continue to assist in the search for a missing farmer in Co Kerry.
Michael Gaine has been missing since he was last seen in Kenmare on 20 March.
This morning, 50 members combined from the 12th Infantry Battalion, Limerick and the 3rd infantry Battalion, Kilkenny returned to Mr Gaine's farmyard for a second day.
The search area has expanded into rougher mountain terrain surrounding the farmyard.
Yesterday, the soldiers assisted gardaí in a thorough search of the farmyard and nearby fields.
Members of the Civil Defence have also been searching a disused quarry which is about 3 km from the farmyard. The Coast Guard is also assisting in the search.
Michael Gaine’s farm comprises over 1,000 acres of land, much of which is rough and remote mountain and bogland. Overgrown waterways running through the land are also being searched.
Michael Gaine was last seen in Kenmare on the morning of 20 March, where he purchased phone credit in the local Centra shop. His bronze-coloured RAV4 car was found in his farmyard the following day. There were a number of personal items in the car.
A massive search has been ongoing for the past ten days. The multi-agency effort has included An Garda Síochána, Civil Defence, the Coastguard, Kerry Mountain Rescue and up to 250 local volunteers.
The Garda helicopter and drones have been involved in aerial surveys.
The Garda Water unit has tasked divers to search a number of nearby lakes and a disused quarry. Trained sniffer dogs have also assisted in the search.
A number of slurry tanks on Mr Gaine’s farm were emptied and excavation was carried out by diggers in the farmyard.
The investigation is still being treated as a missing person case. Gardaí say they have yet to make a significant breakthrough.
Gardaí have issued another appeal for information. In particular they want to speak with anyone who travelled on the N71 between Kenmare and Killarney on 20 March, after 9.48 am.
They are also seeking any dashcam footage or CCTV footage taken in the Moll’s Gap area from Thursday (20th) and Friday (21st).
Gardaí have thanked members of the public for their assistance in previous stages of the search but further search assistance from the general public is not being sought at this time.
Gardaí say anyone with any information should contact Killarney Garda Station on 064 6671160, the Garda Confidential Line at 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.
