'Michael is innocent... gardai have no evidence'

GARDAI have no evidence against a suspect in the inquiry into the murder of farmer Michael Gaine, his solicitor has insisted.

- BY PAUL HEALY and MICHAEL O'TOOLE

In an exclusive interview with this newspaper as part of our new Shattered Lives podcast, The Murder Mystery Of Mike Gaine, Pat Mann said the arrest of his client Michael Kelley was not justified.

He added: "I don't think so, no. I didn't think there was any basis for the arrest. And that subsequently is being borne out."

Mr Mann is representing US-born Kelley, 53, who was arrested last May on suspicion of the murder - following the discovery of Mr Gaine's dismembered remains in a slurry tank on his land in Kenmare, Co Kerry.

Gardai believe Mr Gaine, who was 56, was murdered on or around March 20 - and then dismembered before his remains were disposed of.

They were not found for seven weeks despite a massive search involving over 200 volunteers, Civil Defence, the Defence Forces and multiple Garda units.

Mr Mann revealed that his client is still living in a council-owned flat in Tralee, Co Kerry, where he is often seen busking and in the local library.

He added: "He calls in and out to me for casual conversations and chats and things like that.

"And sometimes if there's anything I can do for him - just for a chat really. He's getting on fine."

The solicitor claimed he has established that the murder of Mr Gaine - who had allowed Mr Kelley to live on his farm in exchange for work - had nothing to do with his client.

Mr Mann said: "Yeah, you're quite right, he said there that he had been arrested back that time in Killarney on suspicion of being involved in that incident.

"And we clearly were able to establish it had nothing to do with him."

Speaking about how Mr Kelley left his boss' farm after the body discovery, he added: "So he left that area down around south Kerry where he was living and moved to Tralee.

"He was living down near Kenmare and he moved up here, so we had that kind of physical contact.