Man in 50s arrested in connection to murder of Tina Satchwell
Gardaí seal off residence for forensic examination
A MAN in his 50s has been arrested in relation to the murder of Tina Satchwell, who disappeared from her home six years ago.
The arrest is the first by gardaí investigating the disappearance of Ms Satchwell, who was 45 years old when she went missing on March 20, 2017, from the home she shared with her husband Richard.
Gardaí also revealed yesterday they have sealed off a premises in Grattan Street, Youghal, Co. Cork, for forensic examination in relation to their inquiry.
Ms Satchwell was reported missing on March 24, 2017, by her husband, who said he last saw her in their home in Grattan Street, Youghal, four days earlier and had presumed she had gone to stay with family in Fermoy, Co. Cork.
Richard Satchwell also told gardaí two suitcases were missing as well of items of his wife’s clothing and some €26,000 in cash from the sale of their previous home and the proceeds of car boot sales. However, Ms Satchwell’s beloved dogs, Ruby and Heidi, were at home. Her family said she never left Ireland; she didn’t have any ID with her and no money was spent from her account.
Ms Satchwell was last seen in public at a car boot sale in Carrigtwohill, Co. Cork, with her husband the day before she went missing. In an update yesterday, gardaí said they have arrested a man and have also sealed off a premises on Grattan Street.
The Irish Daily Mail understands this to be Ms Satchwell’s home before she vanished. Forensic teams are searching the area and are expected to remain on the scene for several days.
A Garda spokesman confirmed: ‘This afternoon, a male (50s) has been arrested on suspicion of murder and detained pursuant to the provisions of Section 4 Criminal Justice Act, 1984 at a Garda Station in Cork County. A family liaison officer has been appointed to the family of Tina Satchwell.
‘Investigating gardaí have sealed off a residence on Grattan Street in Youghal, Co. Cork, and a technical examination has commenced.
‘Gardaí continue to appeal for any person who may have information relevant to the investigation to contact Midleton Garda Station on (021) 462 1550, the Garda Confidential Line on (1800) 666111 or any Garda station.’
Informed sources told the Mail that gardaí in this case never stopped working on the disappearance and said yesterday’s arrest marked a ‘massive step forward’ for the investigation.
A source added: ‘Gardaí have had a suspect in this case for a long time. But they have made some significant breakthroughs recently. They are going through this property with a fine-tooth comb now and there are certain areas they are focusing on. There’s not much more I can say as this is a live investigation.’
Mr Satchwell made repeated appeals for information on his wife’s whereabouts and appeared on RTÉ’s Ray D’Arcy Show to discuss the situation.
He suggested that his wife had struggled with her mental health, claiming that he often spent nights trying to soothe the distressed woman. He went on to say the couple’s GP believed he was right to give his wife space before contacting gardaí.
In early 2021, female remains were discovered in Midleton, Cork, prompting speculation that what happened to Ms Satchwell might finally be unearthed.
However, forensic examinations found the remains belonged to a woman who had been at least 70 at the time of her death.
In one of his most recent interviews, Mr Satchwell pleaded for his wife to ‘get in touch’.
He said: ‘All I would say at this time is for anyone with any news to contact someone, anyone.
‘And to Tina herself: get in touch, because at this point in time I only have one big question, which is: “Why?” But I’m still willing to sit down and talk things through.’
In December, Ms Satchwell’s sister Teresa Dingivan made a public plea for information on what would have been her sibling’s 50th birthday.
Ms Dingivan said at the time: ‘Someone out there knows something. Someone knows what happened to Tina, someone had a hand in her disappearance.
‘Even the smallest clue could help. There has been no update, no news... it’s like a cold case at this stage.
‘I’m at a loss to know where she is. My mind goes over and over it every day. Is she still out there? We want to know where she is, we want to find her. Her family needs some peace.’
The arrested man can be questioned for up to 24 hours with rest breaks. After this period of time elapses, the man must either be released or charged with a crime.
‘Massive step forward’
Searching ‘with a fine-tooth comb’