'He was my best friend': wife of Michael Gaine makes appeal as gardai upgrade investigation
Janice Gaine makes an emotional appeal for information as search for missing Kerry farmer continues
The wife of Kerry farmer Michael Gaine, who has been missing for for almost six weeks, has issued an emotional appeal for information about his disappearance.
In a video statement, released by gardai, Janice Gaine describes the 56-year-old as her "best friend" adding she just wants her husband "to come home."
The video was released this Wednesday afternoon, less than 24 hours after gardai confirmed they had upgraded the missing person investigations to a homicide probe.
"We want to know what happened to him, because if we can't find Michael I just don’t know what I’m going to do," Janice Gaine said in the video adding: "This whole thing has been devastating".
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Michael Gaine was reported missing from his home near Kenmare, County Kerry on Friday March 21 2025 - the day after he was last seen.
Investigating gardai say they have undertaken over 320 formal enquiries, taken almost 130 witness statements and recovered approximately 2,200 hours of CCTV and dash-cam footage.
"Extensive searches utilising specialist equipment by State and other agencies have been carried out over the past 5 weeks which have failed to locate Michael. The disappearance is completely out of character and entirely at odds with Michael’s pattern of behaviour established by the investigation to date," said a spokesperson.Gardai are appealing to any person who may have any information on what happened to Michael to contact the investigation team.
They believe there is a person or persons who know what happened to Michael and are appealing to them to come forward.
"If you have not been in a position to speak to An Garda Síochána about the information you have or have already spoken to An Garda Síochána but have more information that you can provide, An Garda Síochána is appealing to you to come forward with that information. Information received will be treated with the strictest confidence," said the spokesperson.
The Garda investigation team can be contacted directly at Killarney garda station on 064 667 1160.