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The murder of Kerry farmer Michael Gaine is set to be further explored in a new documentary airing tonight. Irish Mirror reporter Paul Healy spoke to Virgin Media as part of the new documentary looking into the garda investigation so far of the murdered farmer on his land in Kenmare.
The Murder of Michael Gaine’ also features interviews with locals and explores the shocking discovery of the missing man’s remains in a slurry tank – seven weeks after it had originally been searched.
The episode looks at this paper’s exclusive interviews with self-admitted murder suspect Michael Kelley – and also features pictures taken by our photographer Mick O’Neill. Audio is also played of our doorstep interview with the US native on the streets of Tralee – where he admitted that he was arrested and was being treated as a suspect in the high profile case.
Mr Healy is asked about his encounter with the suspect, who was also approached for comment as part of the documentary. In our interviews, Mr Kelley, who admits he is an “illegal immigrant” in this country, said Michael Gaine took him in and allowed him to live on his farm for the past three years. He denied any involvement in the murder of Mr Gaine – and asserted that he was being framed.
He told us that he last saw Mr Gaine on the morning of March 20th – the day he disappeared – and claimed the farmer told him he was off to meet someone about a tractor. He spoke of his interview with gardai in which he alleged he was shown “glossy” photos of a chainsaw that officers suspect was used to dismember the remains of Mr Gaine. Mr Kelley, who said he had an “OK” relationship with Mr Gaine rubbished the theory that the chainsaw was used telling us: “The chainsaw thing is preposterous or they would have charged me. I mean Texas Chainsaw Massacre bullshit? I mean please. Preposterous.”
In subsequent exclusive interviews with this paper, explored in the documentary, Mr Kelley opened up about his career as a “meat cutter” in the United States – and stated that his experience wasn’t relevant – because whoever dismembered the Kerry farmer didn’t need his skill.
“I don’t think that what has been depicted as having happened to (Mr Gaine) was as a result of skills. I wouldn’t put that in the ballpark of skills,” he told us. “Any criminal can do mayhem. I have no idea. I haven’t seen what the police presented in a public forum but according to their accounts they said he was cut into small pieces. That doesn’t imply skill,” he said.
The documentary also explores the heartbreaking funeral of Michael Gaine – and the many tributes to the beloved rally car enthusiast. ‘The Murder of Michael Gaine’ part 1 and 2 air at 8:30pm tonight on Virgin Media One.
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