Clare Civil Defence volunteers travelled to Kerry yesterday to assist in the search for missing farmer Michael Gaine who was last seen on March 20th.
Mr Gaine, (56), is known to have visited a Centra store in Kenmare on that morning where he purchased credit for his phone.
According to Gardaí: “Michael then left in his bronze coloured RAV4 registration 152 KY 366. This vehicle was found parked in Michael Gaine’s farmyard, just off the N71 at Carrig East.
Mr Gaine is described as being approximately 5ft 10in, of stocky build, with brown/grey hair and a bushy beard. When last seen, he was wearing an orange woolly hat, black fleece, blue jeans and black boots.
Gardaí have continued to carry out enquiries in the Kenmare locality and searches continued to be carried out over the weekend supported by other state and voluntary agencies in ongoing efforts to locate Michael.
On Tuesday, Irish Defence Forces personnel arrived in Kerry to assist An Garda Síochána. Up to 50 members combined from the 12th Infantry Battalion, Limerick and the 3rd Infantry Battalion, Kilkenny have been carrying out searches of open lands.
A Garda spokesperson said: “These lands are rough, open ground and at higher altitude and the experience and discipline of trained personnel is appropriate to assist in carrying out these searches.
An Garda Síochána wishes to thank members of the public who have assisted in searches previously. An Garda Síochána is not requesting the assistance of the general public for further searches, at this time.”
On Friday, Clare Civil Defence dispatched volunteers to the search area in support of their colleagues in Kerry Civil Defence, who have spent the past fortnight searching for Mr Gaine.
Fourteen personnel travelled from Ennis to Kenmare yesterday. Two drone teams and two land search units carried an extensive search for most of the day.
Civil Defence volunteers from Cork North and Cork West have also been assisting their colleagues in Kerry.
