Michael Gaine suspect Michael Kelley applying for Irish citizenship
The suspect in the murder of Kerry farmer Michael Gaine says he's now applying for Irish citizenship - and wants to become an author.
Admitted 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 underground. I was avoiding immigration (before),' he tells us in an exclusive interview today.
Kelley, who was arrested on suspicion of the murder of the popular Kenmare based 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 author Stephen King.
'Oh, I have outlines of ideas. It's short stories in the tradition of Irish short stories,' Kelley said of his writing aspirations.
'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.'
Writing is just one of the means Kelley says he now hopes to gain employment from - as he told us of going through the process to become a citizen here - all the while residing in a council owned property he was moved into 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.
'As soon as I'm able to work I will also receive employment. It would probably be construction or something like that.'
We spoke to Kelley in light of the revelation that in recent days Gardaí investigating the murder of Mr Gaine had travelled all the way to the US - to speak to his ex wife.
Speaking about the development, Kelley told us he was 'perplexed' as to why officers spoke to her as he also revealed that they spoke to one of his adult daughters.
'I think the word would be perplexed. She (My ex-wife) knows absolutely nothing about anything I've been doing. We haven't talked for years. I understand the oldest daughter was there and they spoke to her too.
'For the life of me I can't see the relationship between a woman who hasn't talked to me for over 10 years and this case,' he said of his ex.
Mr Kelley said his daughter had told him of the meeting - and said Gardaí were 'pleasant and nice' and appeared to be 'just asking for general background information.
'I think they're trying to establish my background character,' Mr Kelley said.
Mr Kelley said he accepted that the garda visit to Maine indicated that officers were still focused on him as a suspect in the murder of Mr Gaine - a crime he insists he did not commit.
In a series of exclusive interviews with this paper, which first revealed he was the suspect in the baffling case, Kelley claimed he was being framed for the killing.
'There may be elements that want to string me up. 'People who have an interest in organised crime - people who are involved in organised crime,' he told us.
Mr Kelley accepted when asked by this paper that Gardaí are treating him as a suspect in the murder of Mr Gaine - after dismembered remains were found in slurry on his land in Kenmare.
'Well that is a matter of record,' he said when asked if he was being treated as a suspect and that he was arrested and interviewed by Gardaí - before being released without charge earlier this week.
'Do you know who I am? Well then why do you ask? Whether or not I'm a suspect is not a matter of perspective. It's a matter of public record,' he also said.
Asked did he say anything to the Gardaí, Mr Kelley told us: 'Well of course but that's all stuff that is privileged between the guards, the solicitor and myself.'
We then asked him if he denies any involvement in the murder of Mr Gaine - to which he said: 'Yes.'
When we asked Mr Kelley what he believed had happened to Mr Gaine he responded: 'It would be incautious for me to comment on that on the advice of my solicitor.'
But he told us he was upset over Mr Gaine's death - and again affirmed that he is denying any involvement.
When asked why he believed Gardaí were looking at him as the suspect he said: 'Because I lived there.'
We asked the man, who subsequently posed for pictures for this paper, what he thought of the fact that body parts were discovered in a dismembered state.
Mr Kelley cited the fact that at the time of this interview Gardaí had not yet formally identified the remains as being those of Mr Gaine.
'I'm aware that the police claim that but I have not seen the evidence to that effect. I've seen only that they recovered body parts from the slurry tank but I have not seen that those body parts have been identified as Michael Gaine,' he said.
'So we have body parts but we don't know that they're Michael Gaine's and I was not shown any evidence of that myself.'
In a subsequent interview with this paper Mr Kelley said he was accepting 'at face value' that the remains had been identified as being of Mr Gaine.
He also spoke to us about Gardaí showing him photos of a chainsaw they believed may have been used to dismember Mr Gaine's remains.
'The chainsaw thing is preposterous or they would have charged me. I mean Texas Chainsaw Massacre bullshit? I mean please. Preposterous,' he said.
'They had colour glossy photos of the chainsaw. I said where the f*ck is the glossy photograph of anything having to do with Michael Gaine's body? I didn't see it.
'This is a little card game that they're playing. Where's your evidence? Where's the macabre photo?' he said.
'They don't have it. They have nothing and if they did show me a colour glossy photo of the human remains they had I bet you I would have called bullsh*t right there and said there's no way that those human remains could be his.'
It's believed that whoever killed Michael Gaine used water and disinfectant to remove forensic evidence from the scene, washing it into the same slurry tank where the remains were later discovered.
The finds were made by specialist Gardaí from the Technical Bureau and the Water Unit, who combed large areas of land as well as every inch of the large slurry tank. It was revealed in May that Gardaí are satisfied the remains are those of Mr Gaine, who was last seen in a Centra Shop in Kenmare, around 8 km from his farm, on March 20.
The Irish Mirror's Crime Writers Michael O'Toole and Paul Healy are writing a new weekly newsletter called Crime Ireland. Click here to sign up and get it delivered to your inbox every week
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Extra.ie
38 minutes ago
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RTÉ News
4 hours ago
- RTÉ News
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Irish Independent
4 hours ago
- Irish Independent
From the Kerry archives, June 30, 2000: A Sonny Knowles riot, King Puck statue & farewell to Mercy Sisters
A near riot breaks out at Sonny Knowles concert Sonnuy Knowles fans are still recovering from the shock of the near riot which broke out in the John Mitchel's clubhouse on Saturday night and which led to seven people being hospitalised. Fights broke out at the end of the concert while a local performer was on stage. Eye witnesses said that a group of young people, both men and women, suddenly turned on each other and began throwing bottles, ash trays and anything else they could find. Gardaí made one arrest on the night but witnesses said there was a core group of at least 15 people directly involved in the fighting. The incident, which occurred after Sonny Knowles had left the stage, was particularly shocking for the large number of middle aged, and elderly people who had expected an enjoyable night out. John Mitchels Chairman Denis Boyle said the club was sorry for anyone who was upset on the night. But he said the night was a success up to the point when fighting broke out. "The night was a success as far as we are concerned and we are going to be holding other nights for people in the locality. There are people who are prisoners in their own homes, so our price structure was right for them with £3 tickets,' Mr Boyle said. "We looked after people. We got taxis for them and we drove older people home and they were delighted. They didn't know what happened as it was only later on," the added. One woman in her fifties, who was caught up in the middle of the fighting with her friends, said it was the most 'terrifying experience that I have ever had.' "A large group of people just started fighting at the end of the concert, a disaster at the end of a lovely evening. It could have been a lot worse because of the age group alone. The majority of people were from 40 years old to 80 years old. For people of that age to be trampled is just not on,' she said. "My friend got a belt of an ashtray. Her her was pulled and her face was burned by the ashes. Another friend got hit by a bottle when she was coming out of the toilet and had to go to the hospital,' she said. The eyewitness said she was too scared to leave the building, even when the fight died down, in case she came across the aggressors. "There should have been more security, without a doubt, in such a packed hall,' she said. "At the moment, I am frightened to go out and I don't I will ever put my foot in John Mitchel's again,' she said. Killorglin to cast King Puck in bronze for millennium Killorglin's annual Puck Fair – which attracts huge numbers of tourists to the town every year – is to be greatly enhanced with the erection of a £32,000 bronze sculpture of King Puck in the town. The Killorglin Millennium committee applied to the government for funding for the statue under the national millennium project. But when the submission was not successful, the committee decided to go ahead with the plans to erect the bronze statue, which is one and a half times the size of a real goat. Valentia Island native Alan Ryan Hall – famous for his statues of Charlie Chaplin, and Charles, de Gaulle in, other areas of South Kerry – has been commissioned to sculpt the statue. According to Jacinta Browne, chairperson of the committee overseeing the project, the sculpture is expected to begin construction in the autumn. "Located as it is on the Ring of Kerry, this win be an emblem for the town when it is done. But it will take a lot of work and a lot of fundraising will have to be carried out," she said. Wonderful plans have been assembled .and the statue will be located on a huge boulder in front of the town which has made him King," she added. Ms Browne said that the idea was borne out of local people's views and aspirations for the town for the millennium year. A group was set up with the idea of coming up with a suitable project for the town and the result is the statue of King Puck. "We have an enthusiastic group of people behind us," Ms Browne said, "but we need a lot of money for the project. We have some promises of money and some has been collected to date but there has been no government money allocated so there is a lot to be collected still." She appealed to people to assist in the funding of what will be a landmark project for the town. She added that the visual impact of the sculpture will be stunning with the river, bridge and town as a backdrop, the McGillycuddy Reeks to the south and the Sliabh Mish mountains to the north of it. "As the sculpture stands at the gateway to South Kerry, it will enhance not only Killorglin, but the rest of the region as a place to be seen and explored," she said. The first main part of the fundraising will take place on August 4 at the Fishery restaurant when a Lord Mayor will be elected for the town. Three local men – Paudie Cronin, Brendan Moriarty and Kevin Goggin – will compete for the honour. A number of other fundraising events have been organised including the Flag Day, which will take place over the August Bank Holiday weekend. Puck Fair itself which runs from August 10 12 will incorporate a number of fundraising events, all which aim to come up with the money for the unique project for Killorglin. Last Mercy Sister Says Farewell An important chapter in the history of Ballybunion was brought to a close this week when the last Mercy Sister attached to St Joseph's primary school, Sister Maire NI Dhúbhda, said farewell to her former pupils and teaching colleagues. The Mercy Sisters have been associated with teaching the young people of Ballybunion both in St Joseph's primary school and secondary school since 1888, but the nuns announced last year that due to falling vocations, they would be closing their Ballybunion convent. Castlegregory born Sr Maire, who was principal of St Joseph's for eight years, was the last link between the Mercy Order and the school and as she told The Kerryman, it was a very emotional day for her. "The nuns have been gone from Ballybunion since last August and now that I have resigned as principal, the last link has been severed. But I would like to think that the Mercy ethos in the school lives on," she said. "Obviously it's a sad day but I have some lovely memories to keep me going. I always found it a very friendly school and I settled in here very quickly and made a lot of memories over the years.' The convent building at the rear of the school has been sold, but the school itself will remain open, with 130 pupils. Joan Lyons, the first lay teacher who was appointed at the school in 1967 has been appointed principal.
