An American former soldier has been reapprehended on suspicion of the killing of a farmer.
Michael Kelley has been detained for the second time on suspicion of murdering Michael Gaine, according to reports from the Irish Mirror. Gaine, a 56-year-old farmer of sheep and cattle, was reported missing from his residence near Kenmare in County Kerry, Ireland, on March 21 last year. In May, human remains identified as Mr. Gaine’s were discovered in fields and on his farm.
Kelley, 54, originally from Maine in the US, was apprehended at his home in Tralee, County Kerry, early on Tuesday. Although the authorities did not disclose the name of the individual in custody, sources confirmed that Kelley, who had resided in an old farmhouse on Mr. Gaine’s property prior to his demise, is the suspect.
The disappearance of Mr. Gaine was initially treated as a missing person case by the Gardaí before being reclassified as a homicide on April 29 last year.
Kelley was first arrested on suspicion of murder on May 18 following the discovery of Mr. Gaine’s dismembered remains on his farm at Carraig East. He was subsequently released without charge and has been residing in the Tralee area since then.
Currently, Kelley is being held at a Garda station in County Kerry under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, with detectives having the authority to detain him for up to 24 hours. Following this period, the suspect must either be charged or released.
In an official statement, the Gardaí at Killarney Garda Station stated that investigations into Michael Gaine’s disappearance and homicide are ongoing, with a man in his 50s arrested in connection with the case and currently being questioned at a Garda station in Kerry Garda Division. The Serious Crime Unit Kerry Division is leading the investigation, supported by the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation.
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