'I DIDN'T USE A CHAINSAW TO GET RID OF MIKE'S BODY...'

Ex-US soldier speaks out over Garda theory into slurry tank remains | Kelley working on farm with axe during hunt for missing farmer

- BY PAUL HEALY

THE suspect in the murder of farmer Michael Gaine says it is "preposterous" to suggest he used a chainsaw to dismember his remains.

This paper has now spoken at length to former US soldier Michael Kelley, 53, who last week admitted to us he was arrested by gardai on suspicion of the murder.

Mr Gaine's suspected dismembered remains were discovered in slurry which was spread on his farmland in Kenmare, Co Kerry.

Speaking to this paper in a lengthy phone interview just before gardai confirmed the remains had been formally identified, Mr Kelley told us he completely rejects the Garda theory that he used a chainsaw, found on the farm, to dismember his remains.

Once again insisting his innocence, Mr Kelley, who is now residing in Tralee, also told us he has no intention of fleeing - and he will "fight this one out no matter what."

"The chainsaw thing is preposterous or they would have charged me. I mean Texas Chainsaw Massacre bulls**t? I mean please. Preposterous," he said.

Mr Kelley, who is originally from Maine in the US, revealed to us that gardai showed him "glossy photographs" of the chainsaw seized from Mr Gaine's land and what he said to them when they did.

"They had colour glossy photos of the chainsaw. I said 'Where the f**k is the glossy photograph of anything having to do with Michael Gaine's body?' I didn't see it," he said.

"This is a little card game that they're playing. Where's your evidence? Where's the macabre photo?

"They don't have it. They have nothing and if they did show me a colour glossy photo of the human remains they had I bet you I would have called bulls**t right there and said there's no way that those human remains could be his."