Man Hid Wife Under Stairs For Six Years Charged With Murder

[Ladybbird]

Missing Tina Satchwell Was Under Stairs For Six Years as Husband Charged With Murder

Tina Satchwell was reported missing by husband Richard in March 2017 and hasn't been seen since - but gardai officers have now identified human remains found in her Co Cork home as the 45-year-old

Irish Central 15 OCT 2023




The family of a woman whose body was found beneath a staircase have paid tribute after her husband was charged with her murder.





Richard Satchwell (centre) arrives at the District Court in Cashel, Co Tipperary, charged in connection with the murder of his wife


Tina Satchwell's remains were discovered in her home in Youghal, Co Cork, last Wednesday and have since been confirmed as the missing 45-year-old. She hadn't been seen since March 2017 when she was reported missing by husband Richard Satchwell after four days, with detectives reportedly believing she had been under the stairs for the last six years.

Gardai had been searching the couple's home in the seaside town when it's understood sniffer dogs led police to a space beneath the stairs, which had once been a toilet, where Ms Satchwell's remains were subsequently found. She has since been identified using dental records.

DNA samples have also been sent off for analysis, although gardai have said they are confident the body is Ms Satchwell's. Mr Satchwell was arrested and questioned over the grim discovery, and has this morning appeared in court charged in connection with his wife's murder.

Paying a moving tribute to her "angel" sister, sibling Teresa Dingivan said: "Rip to my beautiful sister Tina. You can rest now love. We found you. I love and miss you You are now with mum. Fly high my beautiful angel. Give mum a big hug. You will always be with me."

Ms Satchwell was previously described as someone who who loved stylish clothes and her pet dogs. A succinct yet heartbreaking note alongside flowers at the scene which appeared to have been left by Ms Dingivan wrote: "You were so near all the time."

Forensics officers were seen at the house earlier this week, while a search was also carried out at a nearby industrial unit which did not result in any significant findings, with a car and a lorry also seized. The discovery came amidst claims from neighbours that ongoing renovation work was being carried out at the property during night times over recent years.

Richard Satchwell has always insisted that he last saw his wife on March 20, 2017 - after he said he was going to run errands. He claimed that upon his return that she had seemingly vanished without a trace - along with an alleged €20,000 sum of money that they owned and a suitcase.

He said he waited four days to tell gardai that his wife was missing after initially assuming she had “went away to get her head straight” amid alleged personal family issues. Despite exhaustive searches for Ms Satchwell over the years, no trace of her was ever found.

Local priest Father Bill Bermingham said he was also called to the scene where Ms Satchwell's body was found to perform a prayer on Thursday. “There is a great sadness that such a thing would have happened in such a peaceful town,” he said. “We said the prayers for the dead there on the pavement outside the house. People have been wondering what happened and at least there is an answer for them now. That, in some ways, can always be considered a positive thing.”

Speaking to the Irish Mirror, he added: "I would've known her family in Fermoy," he said. "My thoughts would be of course to the family of the victim in this case and we will pray for her at all masses on the coming weekend. Fr Bermingham said his thoughts were also with neighbours on the street where she was found, describing the revelation as "very disturbing".