'Mike let him use house in return for farm work'

Pal tells how 'decent' farmer helped US man; Cllr on grief in community after brutal murder

- PAUL HEALY and MICHAEL O'TOOLE

A FRIEND of murdered farmer Michael Gaine has told how he took in the suspect Michael Kelley - and offered him work in exchange for a home.

In the second part of our Shattered Lives special documentary Who Killed Michael Gaine? Kenmare-based Fine Gael councillor Teddy O'Sullivan Casey paid tribute to his pal as “decent” and “hardworking”.

He also spoke about the sense of grief that is still in the community over seven months on.

The dismembered remains of tragic Mike Gaine, 56, a well-known rallying enthusiast and farmer, were discovered more than seven weeks after he vanished from his farm at Carrig East, Molls Gap, on March 20 this year.

Speaking to us as part of our podcast, both parts of which are out on YouTube today, Cllr O'Sullivan Casey said: “I would have known Mike well over the years.

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“Mike was a nice, decent, hardworking man, devoted to the farm and everything and a good neighbour to the people as well.

“I suppose we try to get on as best we can, everyone’s trying to help one another out. It’s still unbelievable what happened and hard to understand it like, hard to take it all in I suppose. People will rally as best they can and try and continue as normal.”

Mr O'Sullivan Casey said people in the community still talk about the baffling case and there is a huge outpouring of sympathy for Mr Gaine's wife Janice and his two sisters.