CITIZEN KING

Gaine 'murder suspect' applying to become Irish...and then plans to be writer like horror legend Stephen

- BY PAUL HEALY

A SUSPECT in the murder of Kerry farmer Michael Gaine says he's applying for Irish citizenship and wants to become an author.

Self-confessed illegal immigrant Michael Kelley, 52, who is from Maine, is the subject of a deportation order but now says he is going through the process to become a legal Irish citizen.

“It’s been a long-term goal of mine. It just seems like the appropriate time now because I'm no longer under-ground. I was avoiding immigration (before),” he said in an exclusive interview with the Irish Mirror.

Kelley, who was arrested on suspicion of the murder of the popular Kenmare farmer on whose land he lived, also revealed to us that he is now writing “psychological thrillers” in the style of his hero, famed Maine-based author Stephen King.

“Oh, I have outlines of ideas. It’s short stories in the tradition of Irish short stories,” Kelley said.

“Fiction, fiction, fiction. It's gonna be a tribute to Stephen King. He's from Maine, he’s a neighbour of ours. He's one of Maine's most recognisable genre authors. It would be a tribute to Stephen King.

“Psychological thrillers. In the genre of Stephen King. I have always been interested in writing. My sister is a writer. It seems to be a relevant aspiration,” he told us.

Asked if he has written about murder, he said: “No, none of them are about murder.”

PROCESS

Writing is just one of the ways Kelley says he hopes to gain employ-ment, as he told us of going through the process to become an Irish citizen here while now residing in a council-owned property in Tralee amidst the murder investigation.

“I am applying for citizenship. I'm in the process of starting that. I'm not getting much attention (in Tralee), thankfully. I'm beginning to integrate into the community. By minding my own business,” he said.