'It's unlikely that Michael was killed by a stranger'

The Star has learned that detectives probing his disappearance and suspected killing have identified a person of interest - and there was a connection between him and Mr Gaine.

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"The belief now is it is unlikely this was a stranger killing," a source told us.

News of the development comes six weeks after the popular 56-year-old was last seen in his native Kenmare, Co Kerry - and days after the search for him was upgraded from a missing persons case to a full homicide probe.

We have learned that the person of interest - who has not yet been formally made a suspect in the case - was in regular contact with Mr Gaine, who was last seen in a shop in Kenmare on March 20.

There has been no sighting of him since then and, last Tuesday, gardai announced the case was now being treated as a homicide.

That means officers believe he was either murdered - or was killed accidentally.

Sources have told us the person of interest resides in the Kenmare area but gardai simply do not have enough evidence yet to either upgrade his status to that of a suspect, or arrest him.

"There are no grounds for arrest at the moment," a source said.

"That could change, but as of now he cannot be lifted."

EXAMINATION

Gardai are still mounting a major investigation into the disappearance of Mr Gaine, who farmed land just outside his native Kenmare.