'Something sinister happened to Michael'

A RETIRED Garda detective says he believes “something sinister” happened to missing farmer Michael Gaine.

- PAUL HEALY

Alan Bailey led Operation Trace, a 13-year investigation which looked into infamous missing persons cases.

He believes, based on information in the public domain about the disappearance of the farmer from Co Kerry, that foul play has occurred.

“The fact he hasn't been found to date suggests something very sinister as far as I'm concerned,” Alan told us.

This week marks the fourth since well-known farmer Michael, 56, seemingly disappeared without a trace from his farm near Molls Gap, just outside Kenmare town, on March 20.

Alan, who looked into the baffling disappearances of Raonaid Murray, Jo Jo Dullard and Annie McCarrick, said he believes based on the scale of the search to date, that Mr Gaine would have been found by now - had he died in an accident or personal tragedy.

“In missing persons cases there are often people who go missing by choice and we talk about push and pull factors that drive some people from their home.”

“But there doesn't seem to be any evidence of a push pull factor here and that’s one of the first things investigators look for,” he said.