'We just want Michael home,' says missing farmer's wife | Breaking News & Latest Ireland Updates

'We just want Michael home,' says missing farmer's wife — The wife of missing Kerry farmer Michael Gaine has appealed for information on his disappearance, saying: "We just want Michael to come home." "We wa...

The wife of missing Kerry farmer Michael Gaine has appealed for information on his disappearance, saying: "We just want Michael to come home."

"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 a video statement.

She said he was her "best friend, my husband" and "this whole thing has been devastating".

"He loved his home, he loved his farm, he loved animals.

"He had lots of friends. He was a very popular guy.

"His disappearance is totally out of character and we knew that from day one."

Last night the investigation into Mr Gaine's whereabouts was reclassified as a homicide inquiry by gardaí.

The reclassification to homicide covers the possibility that Mr Gaine may have been murdered, as well as the possibility that he died as a result of the actions of another, even if those actions were not intentional - such as manslaughter, for instance.

'We are devastated and we want him back'

Mr Gaine's sister Noreen O'Regan said the family are "absolutely devastated at what has happened".

"We are devastated," she said. "Our lives are shattered. We want answers. We love Michael, we want him back."

She said Mr Gaine was a "loving husband, brother, uncle" and that his nieces and nephews loved him.

Ms O'Regan said her brother "went to the farm on 20 March and it was his routine to his animals".

"He never returned home," she added.

"We are devastated and we want him back."

'Devastating blow for the area' - councillor's appeal for information

Kerry County Councillor Teddy O'Sullivan Casey appealed for anyone with information about what happened to Mr Gaine to come forward.

"It’s quite obvious now that someone does know something, or persons," he said.

Cllr O’Sullivan Casey added: "Please, please come forward and tell someone so we can bring this horrible ordeal for the family to an end."

Read more:Reclassification of Michael Gaine case highly significant

Mr Gaine was last seen in Kenmare on the morning of 20 March, where he purchased phone credit in the local Centra shop.

His bronze-coloured Toyota RAV4 was found in his farmyard the following day. There were a number of personal items in the car.

A major search has been ongoing over the last five weeks and a formal criminal investigation is under way.

Almost 130 witness statements have been taken as part of the investigation, which is being led by a Senior Investigating Officer at Killarney Garda Station, gardaí have said.

Around 2,200 hours of CCTV and dash camera footage have also been recovered.

However, gardaí said that "despite the extensive enquiries carried out so far, An Garda Síochána have not recovered Michael's remains".

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Renewed appeal for information

Gardaí have renewed their appeal for information about what happened to Mr Gaine.

In a statement, gardaí said: "There are person or persons who know what happened to Michael."

They have appealed for anyone with any information to come forward.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Killarney Garda Station on 064 667 1160, the Garda Confidential Line at 1800 666 111, or speak with any members of An Garda Síochána.