TRIBUTES AS MURDERED FARMER MICHAEL GAINE IS LAID TO REST

Priest's homily for kind & generous man

- BY REBECCA BLACK

MURDERED sheep farmer Michael Gaine has been remembered as a loving relative and proud Co Kerry man.

The town of Kenmare was rocked last month when, following the disappearance of Michael Gaine, human remains found on his land were confirmed to be his.

Mourners packed Holy Cross Church in the town yesterday morning to pay their final respects to the 56-year-old and support his family.

His remains were brought into the church by his wife Janice in a wood box topped with sheep's wool.

Speaking on behalf of the family ahead of the funeral service, Mr Gaine's cousin Eoghan Clarke remembered him as a “proud Kerry man and an even prouder Kenmare man”.

He said he will be missed terribly to applause from those gathered.

In his homily, parish priest George Hayes described Kenmare as a place of enchanting beauty, but said into their “peaceful, idyllic, sylvan existence” recently came something terrible.

REMEMBER

He urged mourners to remember Michael for the way he lived his life, and not for the way he died.

“Over these weeks, since Michael went missing, we've asked so many questions and, in life, sometimes, there are no answers,” Fr Hayes told mourners.

“But in the best tradition of Irish funerals, today is a day for recovering the dignity of Michael Gaine.