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The Journal
9 hours ago
- The Journal
'We knew he was lying': the inside story on how gardaí finally caught Richard Satchwell
ON A BRIGHT sunny October morning in 2023, Richard Satchwell walked – almost stumbling at times – through a square in Cashel, Co Tipperary. Flanked by gardaí and wearing handcuffs, he emerged from a garda vehicle with his head bowed. Locals looked on from the top of the street as the last moments of Satchwell's freedom played out, with the flashes of photographers' cameras lighting up the shadows below his face. Satchwell was charged that day and remanded in custody to wait his trial in the Central Criminal Court in Dublin that concluded on Friday with a guilty verdict. It is a tradition in An Garda Síochána that when there is a big capture the garda who put the most effort into the case gets the charge sheet. On that day Detective Garda David Kelleher gave evidence in the witness box of Satchwell's arrest, charge and caution. Behind the scenes, multiple sources have said that the case would have never been solved if it wasn't for Kelleher's tenacity and sheer bloody mindedness which got the investigation to the point where gardaí could dig inside the terraced house on Grattan Street in Youghal where Tina Satchwell's remains were found. He was ordered, or as Gardaí say 'directed' to work on the file by his then Detective Inspector Annmarie Twomey. Gardaí flank Richard Satchwell as he arrives at Cashel District Court. From left: Det Sgt David Noonan, Richard Satchwell, Det Gda David Kelleher, Det Gda David Barry and Superintendent Adrian Gamble. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo Fixing the missteps Sources have said there had been profound missteps in the original investigation that started in 2017, including missed opportunities, leads not followed, glaring holes in stories and phone records not pursued. There was also a hugely expensive search of a woodland when the gardaí leading the probe had very little to go on. A local man had allegedly come forward with information that Richard Satchwell had been spotted in the area – but it proved to not be accurate. Multiple sources have said that the search caused significant disquiet among senior officers, particularly as their budgets for day-to-day policing were left suffering in its wake. The Satchwell case was going cold at that stage – sources said assessments for some garda commanders were that there was a need to focus on cases that could be solved. That was until David Kelleher decided to keep digging in the files. From time to time a garda will be directed to re-examine and review investigations to find new leads. That is what he did. Kelleher found a quiet garda station in east Cork and set up an office as his incident room where he began to examine the case, statement by statement, as well as looking at scraps of evidence and exactly what Richard Satchwell and other witnesses had told gardaí. The quiet station was in Carrigtoohill, a small commuter village just off the N25 dual carriageway which has been dubbed the Cork to Madrid road: it links the south coast cities and towns with the port at Rosslare. The road will also lead you directly to the Satchwell house in Youghal, 30 minutes away. Youghal still shows the signs of the faded seaside glamour of an old Victorian resort. It is a small picturesque seaside town close to the Cork and Waterford border. Tina Satchwell was reported missing on 24 March, 2017. Review Kelleher began to pick the file apart. He found investigative errors and missed leads and bit by bit, he began compiling a new strategy. In evidence given in court, Kelleher's boss Detective Inspector Annmarie Twomey, said it took months to re-examine the file. The evidence included witness statements, CCTV, details of the search of Tina's home in 2017 when she first went missing, inquiries at ports and airports, inquiries with social welfare and the passport offices, media appeals by Gardaí and Richard Satchwell, and inquiries into reported sightings. Well-placed sources said that Kelleher found some key clues in the file, including critical information around phone traffic and their locations. The issue wasn't that the information wasn't collected by the original investigators – it was that it was not identified as a critical part of the puzzle. This examination, sources said, gave them an important jumping off point to test Satchwell's story. The study of phone records produced geolocation data which was then cross-referenced with CCTV footage of Satchwell at Youghal Post Office and Aldi in Dungarvan on 20 March 2017 – the apparent date of the murder. There was an examination of a laptop which found that internet searches had been carried out just days after Tina's disappearance for details on quick lime and how it interacted with water. These searches were never acted on. Around that time gardaí engaged other investigative experts including forensic accountant Tadhg Twomey and forensic archaeologist Dr Niamh McCullagh. There were new lines of enquiry established and 'job sheets' – task assignments – were issued to detectives to follow up particular leads. The accountant had discovered in an examination of the couple's finances that there was no evidence to support Satchwell's claim that Tina had left with €26,000. New statements were taken. The Journal understands that in one discussion with gardaí Satchwell lied about work being done on his house to cover up the pouring of the concrete. The gardaí were able to disprove that by finding the builder Satchwell erroneously claimed carried out the work. Advertisement The town of Youghal. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo 'Unlawful killing' By February 2022, Annmarie Twomey told the trial, gardaí knew they had enough to say that Tina Satchwell was murdered. They reached this point by chasing multiple leads that proved to an objective standard that the woman was dead and the most likely cause was 'unlawful killing'. In 2021 another new part of the strategy was adopted. Detective Sergeant David Noonan conducted a cognitive technique interview with Richard Satchwell. This technique, used by police across the world, employs memory cues and other tactics to enhance recall of people who could have critical information. It took four hours to work through Richard Satchwell's story and Noonan told the court that Satchwell was co-operative throughout. Using what they were finding in the file Kelleher and Twomey continued to find holes in Satchwell's story. By August 2022, they knew they had enough to begin, as gardaí would say, to form a reasonable belief that Richard Satchwell had murdered his wife. They did not immediately arrest Satchwell though. More work was needed. The reports by Dr Niamh McCullagh, the forensic archaeologist, were critical to devising a new forensic strategy. During the trial there was criticism of the original investigators for not carrying out an invasive search of the house in Youghal. A forensic examination was carried out by Cork-based gardaí after a local sergeant in Youghal formed an opinion that it was likely Tina Satchwell was dead in 2017. A senior source we spoke to said that it was unfair to criticise gardaí for not doing an invasive search then rather than just a careful forensic examination and added that they could not 'knock walls' in a house with nothing more than a suspicion. That may be but there were some significant issues with the investigation, including a failure to follow up evidence of the laptop search by Satchwell regarding the quick lime or the geolocation evidence – not to mention the lack of a forensic examination of the finances. But that all changed with Kelleher's doggedness. The investigation neared its completion and there was a final meeting of gardaí shortly before they made their move. The Detective Superintendent in Cork Sean Healy was involved. Gardaí conducting the search at Grattan Street. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo Executing the warrant Kelleher and Twomey's work convinced him that it was time to take a significant turn and free up a budget to go to Grattan Street in Youghal and begin the painstaking work of forensically excavating the house. Twomey obtained a search warrant from the District Court in early October 2023. On 10 October the guards began their move. Twomey went to Grattan Street and told Satchwell what was happening. Kelleher arrested Satchwell. It was a dramatic move. Some sources at the time told The Journal that they doubted whether it would work, but others, closer to Cork North Division, knew this was the moment that the lies Richard Satchwell told were all going to fall apart. One source said on the day: 'There's a DO [garda slang for detective] involved, a fella Kelleher – he's convinced [that this will work]'. Garda forensic experts from Dublin were brought in and construction workers with specialist digging equipment were hired. Under the stairs the searchers found poorly poured concrete and badly built brickwork that did not match the rest of the surroundings. It was here where they found the makeshift tomb where, wrapped in plastic, Tina Satchwell's body was located. Satchwell had been released by gardaí but he was rearrested. The gardaí then had what they needed: the evidence to burst the final lies. All the police work invariably leads to a garda interview room. And in Cobh Garda Station, under camera, Satchwell was confronted with the weight of evidence in what gardaí call 'the challenge interview'. Sources said there were four detectives involved in this part of the process: David Noonan, David Kelleher, David Barry and John Donovan. The gardaí received directions to charge from the Director of Public Prosecutions and performed what was described in court by Defence Counsel Brendan Grehan as 'a perp walk'. The culture in the gardaí is that they do the probe and then leave it to the prosecuting barristers to convince the jury. Right up until the verdict, sources said that there were concerns among the gardaí that there was not enough to prove the murder because there were some doubts around establishing the critical ingredient of intent for Satchwell to be found guilty of murder. The gardaí will gather tonight in a local pub with those involved and toast the success – but as one source said there is a macabre little bit of detail that has not been confirmed. Satchwell had stored Tina's body in a large freezer before burying her in the makeshift grave under the stairs. It was later sold online through the Done Deal website. As one source said: 'No-one knows where it is, it has never been found. It is likely a family is using it to store food somewhere in Ireland and they don't know its history.' Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
The Journal
17 hours ago
- Politics
- The Journal
Israel's defence minister vows to build 'Jewish Israeli state' in the occupied West Bank
ISRAELI DEFENCE MINISTER Israel Katz has vowed to build a 'Jewish Israeli state' in the occupied West Bank. It comes a day after Benjamin Netanyahu's government announced the creation of 22 new settlements in the Palestinian territory. Israeli settlements in the West Bank are regularly condemned by the United Nations as illegal under international law, and are seen as one of the main obstacles to a lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians. Katz framed the latest move as a direct rebuke to French President Emmanuel Macron and others pushing for recognition of a Palestinian state. 'This is a decisive response to the terrorist organisations that are trying to harm and weaken our hold on this land,' he said in a video published by his office. 'It is also a clear message to Macron and his associates: they will recognise a Palestinian state on paper – but we will build the Jewish Israeli state here on the ground,' he added. 'The paper will be thrown into the trash bin of history, and the State of Israel will flourish and prosper.' Advertisement During a visit to Singapore today, Macron asserted that recognition of a Palestinian state, with some conditions, was 'not only a moral duty, but a political necessity'. He also said that European countries should 'harden the collective position' against Israel if it does not respond appropriately to the humanitarian situation in Gaza. Israel Katz said it was "a clear message to Macron and his associates" who want to recognise a Palestinian state. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo Israel slammed Macron's comments, accusing him of undertaking a 'crusade against the Jewish state' and wanting to 'reward terrorists' with a Palestinian state. 'Wrong direction' Israel has occupied the West Bank since 1967 . Despite being illegal under international law, more than 200 settlements have been constructed there, covering more than 10% of its territory. More than 100 of these have legal status under Israeli law. The official boundaries of settlements are off limits to Palestinians because they are declared by Israel as 'closed military areas', even though they are home to more than 600,000 people. Katz was speaking during a visit to the Sa-Nur settlement outpost in the northern West Bank. Sa-Nur was evacuated in 2005 as part of Israel's disengagement from Gaza, promoted by then-prime minister Ariel Sharon. Today, the Palestinian Red Crescent said it was dealing with three shrapnel injuries from bullets in the nearby Palestinian village of Sanur, including two girls aged between 10 and 12 with head wounds. 'They are being taken to the hospital,' it said in a statement. Related Reads UN warns all of Gaza at risk of famine as far-right Israeli minister calls for 'full force' Israel announces plans to create 22 new settlements in occupied West Bank Four dead after thousands of desperate people storm World Food Programme warehouse in Gaza An international conference meant to resurrect the idea of a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is set to take place in June at the UN headquarters in New York. A diplomat in Paris close to preparations for the conference said it should pave the way for more countries to recognise a Palestinian state. Following Israel's announcement of the new settlements on Thursday, Britain called the move a 'deliberate obstacle' to Palestinian statehood, while UN chief Antonio Guterres's spokesman said it pushed efforts towards a two-state solution 'in the wrong direction'. © AFP 2025 Need more information on what is happening in Israel and Gaza? Check out our new FactCheck Knowledge Bank for essential reads and guides to navigating the news online. Visit Knowledge Bank
National Geographic
17 hours ago
- General
- National Geographic
How the Council of Nicaea changed Christianity forever
Icon depicting the Emperor Constantine and the fathers of the Council of Nicaea of 325 with the Greek text of the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed of 381 in its liturgical form. Artist unknown. Photograph by Signal Photos/Alamy Stock Photo This May marks 1,700 years since the convening of what is arguably the most important and influential council in Christian history. For three months in 325 CE, Emperor Constantine gathered hundreds of bishops from across the empire in Nicaea, on the northern coast of what is now Turkey. The resulting statement of belief—the Nicene Creed—was the first official declaration of Christian faith and remains foundational for Christians around the world to this day. Attend Sunday school or a Christian church of nearly any denomination, and you will encounter principles derived from the Nicene Creed. The debate The task of the council was enormous: to establish correct Christian doctrine, fix the date of Easter, define episcopal jurisdictions, and devise protocols for addressing local schisms and dissent. But the most urgent matter under discussion at the council concerned the teachings of Arius, a prominent presbyter from Alexandria who had come into conflict with his bishop, Alexander of Alexandria. Despite common misrepresentations, both Arius and Alexander affirmed that Jesus was the Son of God and divine. Both agreed—following the opening of the Gospel of John—that Jesus was present at the creation of the universe. Their disagreement did not concern whether Jesus was divine, but rather the manner of that divinity and his relationship to God the Father. Arius contended that 'there was a time when [Jesus] was not'—a brief, primordial moment in which the Son did not yet exist. This view implied that Jesus was subordinate to the Father, or at least that the Son's divinity was contingent on that of the Father. Alexander, by contrast, asserted that Jesus had eternally coexisted with God the Father and was fully equal to him. The First Council of Nicaea as depicted by Italian painter Cesare Nebbia (1536-1614), on display at the Vatican Museums, Rome. Photograph by Album/Alamy Stock Photo Underlying this theological dispute were key philosophical concepts drawn from Greek thinkers such as Plato. If the Father and the Son were too unified, as Alexander and his successor Athanasius argued, then the suffering experienced by the Son during the crucifixion would also have been experienced by God—an impossibility according to Platonic philosophy. On the other hand, if they were too separate, as Arius proposed, then Christianity appeared to abandon its monotheistic roots and embrace multiple deities. Each side emphasized a different concern about the nature of God. At the council, representatives of each faction proposed a different term to express the relationship between the Father and the Son. Arius and his supporters favored homoiousios—meaning 'of a similar substance'—while Alexander's camp insisted on homoousios, or 'of the same substance.' Remarkably, the entire controversy hinged on the inclusion of a single Greek letter, iota—giving rise to the expressions 'an iota of difference' or 'a jot of difference.' (What archaeology can tell us about Jesus' crucifixion) The Emperor weighs in Constantine himself had a fairly tenuous grasp of the philosophical and theological nuances of the debate. At one point, according to his biographer Eusebius of Caesarea, he complained that the dispute was a fight 'over small and quite minute points.' Why, then, did he bother to convene such an expensive and time-consuming meeting? Roman emperors had long maintained that concord and uniform religious practices were essential to the success and stability of the empire. Constantine spent much of his career using force to reunify a divided realm; he could not tolerate discord within the Church. As renowned historian of early Christianity Paula Fredriksen puts it in her recently published book Ancient Christianities, Constantine and church leaders agreed that 'proper religion should be unanimous, the identity of and unity of the true church unambiguous.' Division in the church, Constantine said, was worse than war. (Why Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas in January) The outcome The deliberations at the Council of Nicaea were marked by intense conflict. According to a14th-century legend, Saint Nicholas—the figure later associated with Santa Claus—became so enraged during the proceedings that he struck Arius across the face. While the historical accuracy of this episode is doubtful, it accurately reflects the fierceness of the debate. Ultimately, the council ruled against Arius and produced a formal theological declaration: the Nicene Creed. The vote was overwhelmingly in favor. Only about 20 bishops initially refrained from supporting the creed, and just three—Arius and his two closest allies—refused to sign it. The remaining dissenters were later compelled to endorse the statement under pressure from Emperor Constantine. Although Constantine did not vote himself, he did intervene in the drafting, insisting on the inclusion of the term homoousios ('of one substance') in the final creed. The oldest surviving copy of the Nicene Creed, dating to the 6th century. Photograph by Pictorial Press Ltd/Alamy Stock Photo For supporters of Arius, as Fredriksen notes, there were significant financial and political incentives to break ranks: Constantine transferred wealth to orthodox bishops, allowed them to travel at public expense, granted them legal authority as magistrates, and provided grain distributions for their churches. Arius himself was exiled from Egypt and branded a heretic. Even after his death, orthodox Christians continued to attack him. They spread rumors of an undignified death—alleging that he died of explosive diarrhea in a public toilet. According to the legend, the force of his bowel movements caused his intestines to be expelled from his body. The story feels far-fetched. As Ellen Muehlberger, a professor at the University of Michigan, has written, this is one of a slew of early Christian fictions in which heretics and schismatics die in dramatic bathroom incidents. It had the effect of smearing Arius's teachings with excrement and bolstering the reputation of Nicaea and its decisions. (Where is Santa buried? The resting place of the real St. Nick.) The lost church For all its influence, the actual location for the meeting of the Council of Nicaea was, until very recently, completely unknown. Then, in 2018, after a century of fruitless efforts, scientists announced the discovery of ancient Roman ruins beneath the surface of the lake in Iznik, Turkey. Mustafa Şahin, the current head of archaeology at Bursa Uludağ University, had been searching the shores for years before he was shown some government survey pictures in 2014 that clearly revealed the outline of a large church beneath the water. The structure, which is located 165 feet off the coast of Iznik, is submerged 6-10 feet beneath the surface of the lake. Şahin and his collaborator biblical scholar Mark Fairchild believe that this is the place where the Council of Nicaea met. Archeological investigation revealed that the underwater basilica collapsed during an earthquake in 740 CE and was never rebuilt. Over time changes in the water level of the lake submerged the ruins entirely. For intrepid travelers there are plans to make the ruins accessible to visitors. In 2018 the mayor of Iznik, Alinur Aktas, said that professional diving classes would be available to tourists who want to visit the site. For Christians today, Nicaea remains a symbol of a time when the Church was less divided. Though the attendees were anything but unified and civil at the time, religious leaders now see the Nicene Creed as a symbol of shared agreement and belief among the denominations that make up modern Christianity. It predates the schisms that eventually separated the various branches of Orthodox Christianity from Roman Catholicism. Prior to his death, Pope Francis had hoped to join the Eastern Orthodox Patriarch of Constantinople, Bartholomew I, in Nicaea for the anniversary. Pope Leo XIV will make the trip in November, expressing a desire to 'continue the dialogue between East and West [Orthodox Christianity and Roman Catholicism].' All of which shows that even when submerged under water, Nicaea still stands as a beacon of hope for Christians around the world.
The Journal
a day ago
- General
- The Journal
Possible poisoning of white-tailed eagle an ‘uppercut to reintroduction but won't knock it back'
THE FIRST MALE white-tailed eagle to breed in Ireland in over a century has been found dead in Co Clare and was possibly poisoned. The white-tailed eagle, known as Caimín, held territory at the Mountshannon nest site at Lough Derg in Co Clare for the past 17 years. Eamonn Meskell is head of the National Parks and Wildlife Service programme to reintroduce the white-tailed eagle to Ireland. Speaking to RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Meskell described Caimín's death as an 'uppercut to the reintroduction project, but not one that's going to knock us back'. Caimín was found dead last Saturday and an investigation is now under way into the circumstances of his death. Initial post-mortem results from the Regional Veterinary Laboratory indicate poisoning as a possible cause of death. While Meskell said white-tailed eagles don't often die from poisoning, he warned that he has 'disturbingly noticed an increase in poisonings over the last three to five years'. Advertisement 'We've lost chicks to poisoning and rodenticide poisoning, and the initial autopsy shows that Caimín likely succumbed to rodenticide poisoning as well,' said Meskell. File image of a white-tailed eagle in flight Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo He explained that Caimín was taken from a wild nest in Norway in 2008 and was among the first consignment of 20 white-tailed eagle chicks to be sent from Norway to Ireland. Meskell said these chicks that were delivered to Ireland in 2008 were nurtured and then released into the wild with satellite tags. 'Lo and behold, five years later, Caimín mated with another white-tailed eagle chick from Norway that was released in Killarney National Park,' Meskell explained. 'They were the first pair to breed successfully and 'fledge', which means that the chicks flew from the nest in Mountshannon in 2013, and that sparked off eco tourism there and 10,000 people visited to see the eagles and chicks that year.' Caimín and Saoirse had 15 chicks, before Saoirse died of avian flu. But Caimín went onto breed once more with another eagle called Bernardine who arrived in Ireland as part of a later consignment from Norway. 'Even though Caimín was picked up dead earlier this month, Bernardine is on the nest, raising a chick now in Mountshannon as we speak, so there is light at the end of the tunnel.' Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
The 42
a day ago
- Sport
- The 42
Luke Humphries beats Luke Littler in Premier League final to claim Triple Crown
WORLD NUMBER ONE Luke Humphries became just the fourth player to win the Triple Crown after he beat rival Luke Littler in the Premier League final. Humphries edged out the teenage star 11-8 at London's O2 Arena to win the tournament for the first time. He joins Phil Taylor, Michael van Gerwen and Gary Anderson in completing the set of the three biggest competitions in the sport, having already won the World Championship and the World Matchplay. The 30-year-old cemented his position as one of the greats and his enduring rivalry with Littler is carrying the sport. Advertisement Luke Humphries celebrates. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo These two are streets ahead of the rest of the field and this was their 24th meeting in 18 months, with nine of them coming in this season's Premier League alone. Littler threw a nine-darter on his way to glory over Humphries in 2024, but the teenager failed in his attempt to follow Taylor and Van Gerwen in defending the Premier League crown as Humphries gained revenge. The 18-year-old needed a trademark golden spell to beat Gerwyn Price in the semi-final, winning six out of seven legs, while Humphries saw off Nathan Aspinall. But it was Humphries' golden spell that decided the final as he won four legs in a row to turn a 5-3 deficit into a 7-5 lead and he never relinquished it. 'Honestly, that one means the world to me,' he said. 'That was the one I was missing. That was the one I wanted. I've done it now, if I don't win another ever title, I'm happy because I have done the three hardest ones to do. 'I've joined the elusive, group of Gary, Phil Taylor and Michael van Gerwen.' Littler dominated the league phase of the second biggest tournament in the sport, with six nightly wins and a record 45 points, but fell just short at the end. Luke Littler sits on the stage after losing to Luke Humphries in the final. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo Littler said: 'I had a little bit of a thing after the game like I do, nobody likes losing. I'm fine, it's been a tough 17 weeks. I am happy it's over. I'll be back next year. 'I have set many records, I don't think they will be broken (by somebody else) because I am going to come back and try and break my own records.'
