Intrigue surrounds US suspect in Mike Gaine case who has moved to Tralee
Michael Kelley was released without charge after being questioned for 24 hours and denies any involvement in murder of farmer
Janice Gaine carries a photograph of her husband Mike at his funeral in Kenmare on Saturday. Photo: Mark Condren
In the week where two probes were launched into the garda investigation of the Mike Gaine case, Michael Kelley kept a low profile in Tralee.
Mr Kelley has made a complaint to Fiosrú, formerly known as the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC), about his treatment by gardaí. Meanwhile, Garda Commissioner Drew Harris confirmed Mr Gaine's killing is the subject of a peer review, saying lessons can be learned from homicides that begin as missing persons cases.
Before people knew his name, many in Kerry only knew of Michael Kelley as 'the Yank'.
When farmer Michael Gaine first went missing, many locals spoke of 'a Yank living on the farm', curious about what he was doing there and where he had come from.
Mr Kelley's arrest last month and the subsequent public admission that he was questioned by gardaí on suspicion of murdering Mr Gaine have enhanced the intrigue surrounding him. Mr Kelley was released without charge after being questioned for 24 hours. He denies having any involvement in Mr Gaine's murder.
Michael Gaine's remains were found at his farm
Kenmare pauses to say farewell to Mike Gaine
People in Kenmare said Mr Kelley and Mr Gaine met a few years ago. One source said Mr Gaine was out hunting and found Mr Kelley sleeping rough in a remote area outside Kenmare. Mr Gaine offered Mr Kelley some work on his farm and the use of an old house there, they said.
The house provided basic living. People in the area said they believe it had no electricity and they were uncertain if it had running water. It had not been lived in for years before Mr Kelley moved in. Mr Gaine lived elsewhere, not too far from the farm.
Mr Kelley remained at the old farmhouse until Mr Gaine's death and for a short time afterwards while searches were conducted to try to find the farmer.
He relocated from the farm to Tralee shortly before Mr Gaine's remains were found. Intrigue followed Mr Kelley there too.
He currently lives in the town centre, and while he spent some time during his early days there busking in the square, people living and working in Tralee say they have not seen him play music for a couple of weeks. Others did not realise he had been busking.
He's a big man, long hair. He's distinctive, so it's hard to miss him, but he seems to keep to himself
'He's out most in the mornings. He often goes down to the supermarket and then goes back to where he's staying. We don't see much more of him than that, really,' one woman working near Mr Kelley's home said last week.
She said he does not appear to talk to anyone, and few people make moves to interact with him.
Janice Gaine carries a photograph of her husband Mike at his funeral in Kenmare on Saturday. Photo: Mark Condren
'He seems fine and keeps to himself,' a man said.
People are curious because of how he has found himself at the centre of a murder case that has gripped the nation.
One person working near Mr Kelley's new home said they noticed a delivery van two weeks ago outside the building he lives in. It was delivering beds and other furniture.
'I presume it was for the Yank, he's the only new person in there I think. Maybe that means he'll be here for a while,' they said.
'We don't see much else happening, although people are definitely interested in him. He's a big man, long hair. He's distinctive, so it's hard to miss him, but he seems to keep to himself.'
Another man said: 'The only people I have seen him talking to are a couple of reporters.
'There were a few reporters here for days trying to speak to him, but he hasn't been out much. He was out one day in a pair of wellies and waterproof pants. Last week he was out in a pair of sandals talking to reporters.
'Other than that, you don't really see him.'
Michael Gaine's remains were found at his farm
Today's News in 90 Seconds - 08 June 2025
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