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Irish Times
2 days ago
- General
- Irish Times
Eight-year hell for family of murder victim Tina Satchwell ends with one word: Guilty
An eight-year hell inflicted by Richard Satchwell on the family of his murdered wife Tina was ended by a unanimous jury at the Central Criminal Court with one word: 'Guilty'. 'Today as a family, we finally have justice for Tina,' her cousin Sarah Howard said after Satchwell was unanimously found guilty of the murder of his wife at their home in March 2017. [ An 'arch-manipulator' who isolated his 'trophy' wife: The full story of the Richard Satchwell murder trial ] When the verdict was read out just before 12.30pm on Friday, it was greeted with weeping from several members of Ms Satchwell's family. Murderer Satchwell (58), who showed no reaction, will be back in court next week for sentencing. Murder carries a mandatory life sentence. READ MORE He denied the murder of his 45-year-old wife at their home at Grattan Street, Youghal, Co Cork, over March 19th and 20th in 2017. Until her skeletal remains were discovered more than six-and-a-half years later in a deep grave below the sittingroom stairs, he claimed she had left him, taking their savings. After the remains were uncovered in October 2023 during a forensic excavation, he claimed she flew at him with a chisel on the morning of March 20th, 2017, and, during a struggle, went 'limp' and died. He said he put her body on a couch, then in a chest freezer and, on March 26th, buried her under the stairs. Gerardine Small SC, prosecuting, said his account was 'nonsense'. He was an 'arch manipulator' who lied over years to evade responsibility, she said. Tina Satchwell was described by her family as a 'precious sister, cousin, auntie, and daughter' and a 'kind, loving, gentle soul' Outside court, Ms Howard, flanked by her family, said Ms Satchwell was portrayed during the trial in a way not true to their 'precious sister, cousin, auntie, and daughter' and the 'kind, loving, gentle soul who loved her animals like they loved her' . Ms Satchwell's half-sister, Lorraine Howard, thanked Garda Superintendent Annemarie Twomey and Det Gda David Kelleher, who both got involved in the Garda investigation in 2021, 'for putting the pieces together and finding Tina'. Asked about alleged Garda failures in earlier stages of the investigation, a Garda spokesman said the matter was still before the court and there would be no comment at this time. [ Why did gardaí ignore 'red flags' in the Tina Satchwell murder investigation? ] Labour Party justice spokesman Alan Kelly said, now that Satchwell was 'rightfully convicted', the question he and many are asking is 'why it took so long' to find Ms Satchwell when it seemed 'red flags' had been raised some years earlier. Sinn Féin's justice spokesman Matt Carthy said there may be a case for Fiosrú, the Office of the Police Ombudsman, to see if any action is required on the adequacy of the initial investigation. Mr Carthy said he welcomed the verdict and the fact the family of Ms Satchwell has finally received justice. He pointed out that while she was reported missing in 2017, it was only in 2021, after Supt Ann Marie Twomey assumed responsibility for the case, that a full review of the case file took place. That included consultation with a forensic archaeologist with an expertise in domestic homicide, he said. The search that followed led to the discovery of Ms Satchwell's body. 'I think that Supt Twomey should be commended and that lessons should be learnt from what was done well in this case in the latter stages and what may not have been done well at the outset,' Mr Carthy said. 'It may make sense for Police Ombudsman to look at this case and consider whether any action is required in terms of the adequacy of the initial investigation,' he said. In Youghal, the guilty verdict was widely welcomed, including by Canon Bill Bermingham who said it represented a conclusion to 'a very sad and distressing story'.
The Independent
2 days ago
- General
- The Independent
Tina Satchwell remembered by family as ‘kind, loving and gentle soul'
The family of murder victim Tina Satchwell described her as a 'kind, loving and gentle soul'. Tina's cousin, Sarah Howard, said the family 'finally have justice' following the conviction of Richard Satchwell. Satchwell, a British truck driver, was found unanimously guilty of the murder of his wife at their home in Co Cork. The 58-year-old had denied the murder of Mrs Satchwell on a date between March 19 and March 20 2017. The jury in the trial returned the verdict on Friday afternoon at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin. The jury had been deliberating for a total of nine hours and 28 minutes since Tuesday afternoon. Relatives of Mrs Satchwell wept as the guilty verdict was returned. Ms Howard, who gave evidence for the prosecution in the trial, said: 'During this trial Tina was portrayed in a way that is not true to who she was. 'Tina was our precious sister, cousin, auntie and daughter. Her presence in our life meant so much to us all. 'We, as a family, can never put into words the impact that her loss has had on all of us. 'Tina was a kind, loving, gentle soul who loved her animals like they loved her and that is the way we want her remembered. 'Today, as a family, we finally have justice for Tina.' Tina's half-sister, Lorraine Howard, thanked the judge, Mr Justice Paul McDermott, and the prosecution team, including senior barrister Gerardine Small. 'Your hard work and professionalism shone through like the classy ladies you were. We will never be able to put into words how thankful we are for you. We want to sincerely thank the judge, the jury, for their dedication,' she said. 'We would like to thank all the witnesses who helped us reach this verdict today. I would like to personally thank Sarah Howard, who came up to give evidence and her support two weeks postpartum from her beautiful baby girl. You did yourself and Tina proud. 'Thank you to (Superintendent) Ann Marie Twomey and (Detective Garda) Dave Kelleher for putting the pieces together and finding Tina. 'We would like to thank John O'Connell, the victim support workers, for keeping our spirits high.'
Telegraph
2 days ago
- General
- Telegraph
Lorry driver murdered wife and hid body under the stairs for six years
A British lorry driver has been found guilty of murdering his wife in Ireland and hiding her body under the stairs. Richard Satchwell, 58, did not react as the unanimous verdict was read to the Central Criminal Court in Dublin on Friday. Satchwell, who had denied murdering Tina Satchwell on March 19-20 2017, will be sentenced on June 4. Mrs Satchwell's remains were discovered under the stairs of their home in Co Cork six years after her husband reported her missing. Speaking outside court, her cousin Sarah Howard said the family 'finally have justice' following the conviction. She said: 'Tina was our precious sister, cousin, auntie and daughter. Her presence in our lives meant so much to us all. 'We, as a family, can never put into words the impact that her loss has had on all of us. Today, as a family, we finally have justice for Tina.' Satchwell formally reported his wife as missing in May 2017, and also told investigators that his wife was sometimes violent towards him, but he had put up with it because he loved her. In August 2021, Supt Ann Marie Twomey was appointed senior investigating officer, and after identifying new lines of inquiry, concluded that Tina had met her death by unlawful means. During the investigation, Gardai found that Satchwell's computer had searches for quicklime shortly after his wife disappeared. Investigators obtained a court search warrant, and in October 2023, police officers discovered Mrs Satchwell's skeletal remains buried under the stairs of the couple's home after a search of the property in Grattan Street. Her badly decomposed body was wrapped in a soiled sheet and covered with a black plastic sheet. She was wearing pyjamas with a dressing gown, and the belt of the gown was wrapped around her. Dr Margaret Bolster, the state pathologist, said she could not determine the exact cause of death because of the advanced state of decomposition. Gardai arrested Satchwell for murder following the discovery of his wife's remains. During Garda interviews, Satchwell said that on the morning of March 20 2017, he found his wife standing at the bottom of the stairs with a chisel in her hand, scraping at the plasterboard. He claimed that she came at him with the chisel, and he fell back on to the floor. He added that Mrs Satchwell tried to stab him multiple times with the chisel and that he grabbed her clothing and restrained her by putting the belt of the robe against her neck. Satchwell said that in a very short period of time, she went limp and fell into his arms. He then placed her body on the couch in the living room, before moving her to the chest freezer and then burying her under the stairs. Lorraine Howard, Mrs Satchwell's half-sister, described the couple's marriage as odd and said that Satchwell was possessive of Tina and referred to her as his 'trophy wife'. She said that Satchwell portrayed his wife as being violent after she disappeared, and said he would show her every cut and scar on his body and blame her half sister for it. In her closing speech, Gerardine Small, the prosecution barrister, said that Satchwell was 'shamelessly brazen', the narrative he gave about how his wife died was implausible and had 'more holes than a block of Swiss cheese'. She said that he displayed 'conniving actions, full of guile' and embarked on a 'web of deceit' after he buried his wife. The prosecution described Satchwell's narrative as implausible and self-serving, highlighting his failure to seek help after Tina's death.
BreakingNews.ie
2 days ago
- General
- BreakingNews.ie
Tina Satchwell remembered by family as ‘kind, loving and gentle soul'
The family of murder victim Tina Satchwell described her as a 'kind, loving and gentle soul'. Tina's cousin, Sarah Howard, said the family 'finally have justice' following the conviction of Richard Satchwell. Advertisement Satchwell, a British truck driver, was found unanimously guilty of the murder of his wife at their home in Co Cork. The 58-year-old had denied the murder of Mrs Satchwell on a date between March 19 and March 20 2017. Lorraine Howard, the half-sister of Tina Satchwell, speaks to the media outside the Central Criminal Court in Dublin. Photo: Brian Lawless/PA The jury in the trial returned the verdict on Friday afternoon at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin. The jury had been deliberating for a total of nine hours and 28 minutes since Tuesday afternoon. Advertisement Relatives of Mrs Satchwell wept as the guilty verdict was returned. Ms Howard, who gave evidence for the prosecution in the trial, said: 'During this trial Tina was portrayed in a way that is not true to who she was. 'Tina was our precious sister, cousin, auntie and daughter. Her presence in our life meant so much to us all. 'We, as a family, can never put into words the impact that her loss has had on all of us. Advertisement 'Tina was a kind, loving, gentle soul who loved her animals like they loved her and that is the way we want her remembered. Mary Collins, the mother of Tina Satchwell, outside the Central Criminal Court in Dublin. Photo: Brian Lawless/PA 'Today, as a family, we finally have justice for Tina.' Tina's half-sister, Lorraine Howard, thanked the judge, Mr Justice Paul McDermott, and the prosecution team, including senior barrister Gerardine Small. 'Your hard work and professionalism shone through like the classy ladies you were. We will never be able to put into words how thankful we are for you. We want to sincerely thank the judge, the jury, for their dedication,' she said. Advertisement Ireland Richard Satchwell: What the jury did not hear Read More 'We would like to thank all the witnesses who helped us reach this verdict today. I would like to personally thank Sarah Howard, who came up to give evidence and her support two weeks postpartum from her beautiful baby girl. You did yourself and Tina proud. 'Thank you to [Superintendent] Ann Marie Twomey and [Detective Garda] Dave Kelleher for putting the pieces together and finding Tina. 'We would like to thank John O'Connell, the victim support workers, for keeping our spirits high.'
Irish Times
3 days ago
- General
- Irish Times
Richard Satchwell trial: Jury to resume deliberations on Friday
A jury will return to court on Friday to resume considering its verdict in the trial of Richard Satchwell, who denies the murder of his wife at their Co Cork home. The skeletal remains of Tina Satchwell were found under the couple's home in October 2023, more than six years after her husband reported her missing. Mr Satchwell (58), a lorry driver, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of his 45-year-old wife Tina at their home at No 3 Grattan Street, Youghal, on March 19th and 20th, 2017. The trial, which enters its 23rd day on Friday, heard evidence from more than 50 witnesses. READ MORE The jury began considering their verdict about 3pm on Tuesday, continued their deliberations on Wednesday and again on Thursday. When they were sent home at their request at 3.45pm pm on Thursday, they had deliberated for eight hours and 37 minutes. They are due to resume their deliberations at 11.30am on Friday. Relatives of Ms Satchwell, including her mother Mary Collins, half-sister Lorraine Howard and cousin Sarah Howard were again in court on Thursday. The jury has three possible verdicts open to it – not guilty of murder; guilty of murder; and not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter. The judge has directed they may also consider, depending on their view of the evidence, a defence of partial self-defence or full self-defence. The trial heard Mr Satchwell went to Fermoy garda station on March 24th 2017, where he told a garda his wife had disappeared from their home four days later, he believed she had left him and had taken €26,000 cash savings. He told a garda he was not concerned about her safety. After gardaí interviewed him in early May 2017, he formally reported his wife as a missing person about a week later. Gardaí, increasingly concerned something untoward had happened to Ms Satchwell, obtained a warrant to search the couple's home in June 2017 when devices were seized. In October 2023, gardaí carried out a full invasive search of the property, using a cadaver dog. Skeletal remains identified as Ms Satchwell were found on October 11th, 2023, buried in a grave site about one metre deep in an area under the stairs in the sitting room. Mr Satchwell, who had been arrested but released before the remains were found, was rearrested and, during another interview with gardaí, told them his wife had flown at him with a chisel on the morning of March 20th, 2017. He fell and she came on top of him trying to stab him with the chisel, he claimed. He said, while fending her off with the belt of her dressing gown robe, which was up around her neck, she went limp and died. He told gardaí there was 'no premeditation' and he had not called emergency services due to 'panic and shame'. He said he placed her body on the couch before moving it to a freezer for about two days after which he buried it in a grave dug by him under the stairs and which he had cemented over. A post-mortem examination of the remains was, due to lapse of time, unable to establish a cause of death. The jury heard there was no evidence of fractures to the bones, including the hyoid bone in the neck.
