Former US soldier charged with murdering Mike Gaine wants new barristers, court told
A former US soldier charged with the murder of a sheep farmer in Co Kerry, Ireland, has requested new legal counsel ahead of his 2027 trial. The court granted the application for his current barristers to withdraw, though his solicitor will remain on the case.
Why it matters
This procedural development highlights the complexities of high-profile criminal cases involving international defendants and the logistical challenges of managing long-term legal representation.
A former US soldier charged with murdering Co Kerry sheep farmer Mike Gaine wants new barristers in advance of his nine-week trial next January, the Central Criminal Court has heard.
Michael Kelley, a native of Maine in the US but of no fixed abode in Tralee, Co Kerry, was sent forward for trial in Dublin last May after being served with the book of evidence.
Kelley (54) is charged with a single count of murdering Mike Gaine (56) at Carrig, Kenmare, Co Kerry, on a date unknown between March 20th and 21st, 2025.
Kelley is expected to go on trial at the Central Criminal Court on January 11th, 2027.
The court was previously told by counsel for the Director of Public Prosecutions that there are 191 witnesses in the book of evidence and it is estimated the case will last up to nine weeks.
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