Partial human remains found in search for missing Co Kerry farmer Michael Gaine

Partial human remains have been found in the search for missing Co Kerry farmer Michael Gaine.

Irish police said searches are ongoing to recover any further human remains.

A Garda spokesperson said DNA analysis will be required to carry out formal identification of the recovered human remains.

Earlier on Saturday State Pathologist Dr SallyAnne Collis and members of the Garda Technical Bureau arrived at Mr Gaine’s farmyard close to Kenmare.

Dr Collis and forensic anthropologist Laureen Buckley assisted by the Garda Technical Bureau carried out preliminary examinations in the area which gardai described as a crime scene.

On Saturday evening a Garda spokesperson confirmed that partial human remains had been found.

Mr Gaine, 56, was reported missing from his home near Kenmare on Friday March 21.

He was last seen the previous day in Kenmare town buying phone credit in the Centra shop at 9.48am.

There have been extensive inquiries by gardai investigating Mr Gaine’s disappearance over the last eight weeks, as well as a public plea for information issued by his wife Janice Gaine and sister Noreen O’Regan.

On April 29 the investigation was reclassified as a homicide.

Garda operations have been under way at the land in Carrig East, Kenmare, since Friday evening.

Gardai previously said they had gathered around 2,200 hours of CCTV and dashcam footage, taken nearly 130 witness statements and carried out more than 320 formal jobs/inquiries.

Irish troops and the Garda Water Unit were also involved in search efforts in recent weeks, and checkpoints were held a week after Mr Gaine’s disappearance to help gather information that would aid the investigation.