A Kerry TD has questioned the Garda Commissioner on how the investigation into the murder of Michael Gaine has been conducted.
Michael Cahill raised the matter to Commissioner Drew Harris at the Oireachtas Justice Committee.
The Fianna Fáil TD highlighted several concerns around the investigation, including the use of cadaver dogs at an earlier stage.
Deputy Cahill believes their use would have expedited the investigation and curbed the rumour and speculation in relation to the case.
He asked the Commissioner why a policing review into the Mike Gaine case has been called during an active investigation:
In response, the Garda Commissioner said a cadaver dog was used early on during the search conducted on Mike Gaine's farmland in Carrig East, near Kenmare.
Drew Harris told the Oireachtas Justice Committee that the operational span of Garda detection dogs is around four years.
He added that the dog used in the search of Michael Gaine’s farm was used in co-ordination with the PSNI.
Commissioner Harris gave this reply in response to Deputy Michael Cahill’s queries:
