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The Irish Sun
14 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
I was the first reporter let into Richard Satchwell's home – the chilling reason I knew in seconds Tina's body was there
THE first time I met Richard Satchwell was about eight months after his wife Tina disappeared. He agreed to do the interview in the home they shared in Youghal. Advertisement 5 Richard Satchwell was found guilty of murdering his wife Tina Credit: John Delea - The Sun Dublin 5 Tina's remains were found at the couple's home in Youghal in 2023 Credit: Collect 5 Ann Mooney was the first reporter allowed inside the Satchwell home by Richard Credit: John Delea I believe I was the first journalist he brought into the murder house on Grattan Street where he used the interview to appeal for Tina to come home. The fact that I had covered Myself and photographer John Delea arrived at the house and In fact it was so bad that I stepped back out into the fresh air and told John I didn't know if I would be able to conduct the interview in the house because of the disgusting stench. Advertisement Read more in News But I had gotten the interview with him, one he had refused to many other journalists, so I pulled myself together and went in. The living room was an absolute mess. The smell pervaded through everything. The two Jack Russell dogs — Heidi and Ruby — were allowed to run free everywhere, often peeing and pooing in the room without it having any effect on, or reprimand from, The parrot was in a large long cage which had glass on the bottom. This area was almost full of excrement. Advertisement Most read in The Irish Sun The sights, sounds and smells still stay with me to this day. I found it hard to find a clean spot on which to sit on the settee. DRINK CLAIM When I look back now it was very evident that Richard had prepared for our visit and had staged the scene. On the coffee table between us was a very large high heel red shoe. In it was a bottle of Cava — although Richard referred to it as champagne. That, he told me, was waiting for Tina to come home. He said he would open it, pour her a glass and welcome her back. He said he couldn't wait for it to happen. Advertisement Holding the bottle he told me 'it will be opened when she walks through that door' — pointing towards the front entrance. The one thing that struck me during the interview was the number of times he spoke about how much he loved Tina and that he 'would never lay a finger on her'. CONTACT WITH GARDA The more contact I had with Richard, the more I was convinced he had killed Tina. I believed that because he was a truck driver, and travelled all over the country, that he had hidden the body in a remote, hard to find location. After leaving I got into my car and rang one of my Advertisement I asked them if gardai had searched the house and was told they had, from top to bottom. I remember clearly saying: 'I never smelt anything like the smell in the house. I know the dogs are allowed to run around free doing whatever they want to do everywhere, but that still doesn't account for the vile smell permeating throughout the ground floor area that I was in.' 'THERE HAS TO BE A BODY THERE' I actually said: 'Honestly there has to be a body there as nothing else could smell that bad.' But even then I would not have even considered that there was a body buried in a grave underneath the stairs. Did I think Richard killed his wife back in November 2017 when I met him for the first time face to face? Yes, I did. His declarations of love for her, his obsession with her and her appearance, and his absolute belief that she was his and his alone are all the hallmarks of a man who is prepared to kill so that no one else could have the love of his life. Advertisement COULDN'T TAKE REJECTION My belief is that Tina started to get a life when they moved to Youghal. She joined the gym, she started to meet people for coffee and to make friends — and I think she realised there was another life for her, one without Richard. I always felt she told him the morning he killed her that she was leaving him. And he just couldn't take the loss and rejection and killed her. I think he buried her in the house so that he could always be close to her. His own personal secret shrine he could visit at will. All his words and all his appeals for Tina to come home were said and done by a man who was a great actor playing the role of the devoted husband who just couldn't understand why his wife of 25 years had walked out the door leaving behind everything including her two precious dogs, whom she regarded as her kids. "The more contact I had with Richard, the more I was convinced he had killed Tina. I believed that because he was a truck driver, and travelled all over the country, that he had hidden the body in a remote, hard to find location." Ann Mooney Tina never went anywhere without Heidi and Ruby. They were her babies, her fashion accessories and her love. Advertisement Richard continued to use words of love and bewilderment in the interview when he said: 'I don't believe she is dead and I am living in hope that eventually she will get tired of being away and will come home to me. 'I LOVE HER DEEPLY' 'I love her deeply and this disappearance has not changed my feelings for her. I actually have money put away for when she returns so that we can head off together for a few weeks' break. "I am living in a void. But I still believe she is going to turn up as suddenly as she left. 'She is a very independent woman, always has been and doing this (disappearing) is part of that independence. Advertisement 'I am heartbroken. I am still minding the two dogs and the parrot. They are a great consolation to me because she loved them so much. They give me the incentive to get up in the mornings.' He said that every day he and Tina were together since they married, his life was 'one long honeymoon. She is my daylight — she has been my life since meeting her, even before I spoke to her.' And he said, despite his claim Tina left with the almost €30,000 they had kept in cash in the house, he had enough money saved to continue doing up their home, stating: 'I want everything perfect for her when she comes home.' 'NEVER LAY A FINGER' CLAIM Richard stressed in so many interviews that he would never lay a finger on her 'never once, in nearly 30 years of being together', adding: 'The most I have ever done to her is have a tight cuddle, loving the bones off her.' Advertisement He described his life with her as idyllic from the minute he first met her in Rochdale in the UK in 1988 when she was still a teenager. They wed on her 20th birthday in 1991. He claimed when he heard cops were searching Castlemartyr Woods following a viable tip-off that 'it was a kick in his stomach'. Yet one of my sources told me that when the Gardai called to his house to tell him about the search, they knew by his reaction that Tina was probably not buried there. 'I am heartbroken. I am still minding the two dogs and the parrot. They are a great consolation to me because she loved them so much. They give me the incentive to get up in the mornings.' Richard Satchwell But they had to act on the tip they received and we all know what happened — there was not even a trace of the 45-year-old there. Advertisement In interviews done near the woods, Richard claimed he had barely slept since being informed of the search. But before doing the interviews, the killer was laughing, joking and completely at ease. The minute the interviews began he transformed into a heartbroken husband and with tears welling in his eyes appealed to the public to contact the Gardai with any info that would bring Tina home. He said: 'I'm sick in my stomach. The sleep I actually did get, I just nodded off watching telly, and then woke up a couple of hours later, but that's about it. I feel sick.' He feared he would struggle to cope if Tina's remains were found in the woods, something that was never going to happen because she was buried under the stairs. Advertisement 'I WON'T BE ABLE TO COPE' With tears streaming down his face, he said: 'I find it difficult, because after the call I got from the Gardai and knowing what's going on behind me (the search) with barriers there, I'm trying to fill myself with hope. 'I've had people say to me, 'How will you cope if it turns out to be her?'. My answer to that is I won't be able to cope. 'I'm here and I'm just praying and hoping that like the search in Youghal, it all comes to nothing.' Throughout the years after Tina disappeared, Satchwell was asked if he would take a lie detector test. Advertisement 'NOTHING TO HIDE' He had an excuse for not taking one — yet always stressed: 'I have nothing to hide.' He also denied being a possessive and controlling husband. He said: 'Tina was always out and about on her own. Tina is not the type of personality to let anybody tell her what to do or control her. It is just not her.' Richard also claimed he was not jealous of her, even though she was very good looking and distinctive. Advertisement He said: 'Often if I was out and about and I saw something in a shop window and I knew it would be Tina's style, I would buy it. She is a great woman and I didn't have a bad word to say about her.' But then immediately he said that Tina would lose it and hit him — but he never hit her back. 'FLASH TEMPER' He claimed: 'She had a flash temper but there was no intent. She would be crying and apologising. There was no intent. The most I have ever done is hold her in my arms tightly until she calmed down. She was my life.' He said he knew 100 per cent that Tina wasn't having an affair and that, at the time of her disappearance, their marriage was not in a bad place. She never spoke to him about leaving and that while he is not angry with her for doing so, he is 'disappointed'. Advertisement He said: 'But if she came back my arms would go around her, there would be tears. I would make her a cup of tea, make sure she wasn't hungry, contact the guards and contact her family.' In his personal appeal to his wife, again with the tears welling up, he said: 'I love you Tina and all I want is for us to be together again. 'I miss you and life is very empty without you here. I miss your smile and your laughter and without you there is no joy in my life.' LEGAL THREATS He added: 'My gut feeling is that she is alive and that she will come home. I just feel that I would know if she was dead. Advertisement 'I just can't give up hope. Without Tina I have nothing. I would be so happy if she just walked into the house. That is my dream and it would mean the world to me.' Richard and I kept up contact and he usually answered his phone when I called, often leading up to the anniversaries of Tina's disappearance. Until he didn't. The last contact I had from him was a text threatening to take legal action because I quoted him in a story when he hadn't spoken to me. I texted him back to say if he had read the story properly, he would have seen the quotes were from previous chats we had as he hadn't answered my calls or texts. Advertisement I didn't hear back from him and he continued to ignore any requests for interviews. At the end of my original interview with him, photographer John suggested he and Richard could drive around the area. The killer took John up to the pier area near the lighthouse with railings and a bench where he and Tina sat holding hands. JUST A PERFORMANCE Richard also took John to the sand dunes a short distance away where he proposed to Tina because they both loved the sea. Advertisement John told me: 'It seemed to me that he was playing the game of deceit. He wanted to impress on us that he was the heartbroken husband and all he wanted was for Tina to come home.' And finally as I was about to leave the Satchwell home, I asked Richard if after eight months he had given serious consideration to the fact that Tina was dead. He looked me in the eye, put his hand on his heart and said: 'Ann, if my Tina was dead, I would know it here. I know she is going to walk through that door and then everything will be as it was.' He was a great actor and he certainly could have won an Oscar. Advertisement 5 Richard claimed that he 'never lay a finger' on wife Tina 5 Tina in 2016 with her dog Ruby and pet parrot
The Irish Sun
a day ago
- The Irish Sun
Richard Satchwell listened to himself tell lie after lie but still only he truly knows what happened to wife Tina
RICHARD Satchwell cut a sad, lonely figure throughout his five-week trial in the Central Criminal Court. He rarely lifted his head 4 Richard Satchwell had pleaded not guilty to murdering his wife 4 Tina's remains were found at the couple's home in Youghal in 2023 Credit: Collect It was clear something didn't add up then, but it wasn't until we heard the full prosecution And it was harrowing stuff. The 58-year-old could do nothing more than try to hide his shame throughout the proceedings - especially as he listened back to 14 interviews he gave to television stations, radio stations, both local and national, and newspapers in the months that followed Tina's disappearance. Read more on Richard Satchwell He had to listen to himself tell lie after lie, spout repeated nonsense theories as to where Tina might be and what must have been going through his head as he watched himself put on an All the while One of the saddest things about this case is that Richard Satchwell put himself front and centre of this story from the outset and while Tina might not necessarily have been forgotten about, who she was, certainly was. Most read in The Irish Sun But these were all elements Richard Satchwell introduced into the case as part of his account of the life the couple shared together in the coastal town in rural Cork. Another account which came solely from the mouth of the murderer was the how and why Tina died. UNABLE TO DETERMINE CAUSE OF DEATH The long period from the day she died up to the moment So there was nothing to corroborate what he had to say and only he will truly know what happened between March 19 and 20, 2017. But it was years of public storytelling which probably sealed his fate because it was very hard to believe anything he had to say, even if his barrister Brendan Grehan tried to remind the jury that people lie for many reasons and he was not on trial for ACCEPTED HIS FATE Throughout the trial Satchwell looked like a man who had long since accepted his fate, knowing it would be very difficult to convince a jury of his version of events. And the guilty verdict will ensure only one sentence, which will give him enough opportunities to contemplate how winning the Lotto the day he met Tina, in his words, went so violently and tragically wrong. Hopefully before Mr Justice Paul McDermott gets around to imposing Satchwell's life sentence, we get to hear from her family and the person Tina was becomes a bit more central to this distressing case. 4 Satchwell told cops on March 24, 2017, that Tina had left the marital home four days earlier Credit: John Delea - The Sun Dublin 4 Throughout the trial Satchwell looked like a man who had long since accepted his fate Credit: John Delea - The Sun Dublin
The Irish Sun
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
RTE legend's son could play mobster Gerry ‘The Monk' Hutch on big screen as top director reveals ‘key' development
REX Ryan could soon be playing The Monk on the big screen. 3 Rex Ryan will play The Monk in a new one-man play 3 Directors could make moves to develop a film about Gerry Hutch's life 3 Gerry Ryan's son could also bag a big screen role after his theatre show Credit: Chrispin Rodwell - The Sun Dublin And director Mark O'Connor revealed he is interested in turning the controversial production into a big screen biopic. He told The Irish Sun: 'I looked at 'I even had some talks with co-writers of mine about doing it. "It could be an interesting story that would span decades with periods in the 70s, 80s and 90s. READ MORE IN REX RYAN 'But what stopped me was you'd have to be in touch with The Monk and we didn't have that contact.' But the Mark, who previously made Cardboard Gangsters, said: 'Key to all this would be getting the approval of The Monk to tell his story so this is amazing news. I will be going to see this play.' And Mark, who gave MOST READ IN THE IRISH SUN He said: 'I would definitely love to see Rex in the role. I don't know Rex well but I've heard lots of great things.' Rex previously revealed he exchanged voice notes with The Monk about his play — and the mobster visited his theatre to discuss the script. Gerry Hutch leaves door open on political future as The Monk declares Dail run 'great campaign' & clashes with RTE star He told the Sunday Independent: 'I had written that his father was a mechanic. 'He said he was a docker. I got some names wrong and he corrected them.' CLONTARF CONNECTION Rex's original connection to The Monk came through Hutch's son Jason who Rex grew up with in Clontarf. Rex made a video call to Hutch while he was in Wheatfield Prison to tell him he wanted to play him and tell his story on stage. Rex said: 'What do you think of that?' He said: 'You do whatever you want, Rex. You have my blessing.' I said thank you. And that was that.' The play is set in the holding cell of the Special Criminal Court five minutes before Hutch is set to receive his verdict. Rex said: 'I have a beard and long hair and the clock is ticking. What happens next is, Gerry puts his hand on his head and beard and hair come off and the whole space changes. 'It is TV screens everywhere and we're in the mind of The Monk. It is like A Christmas Carol…I have a guardian angel on the stage. 'She is the angel of truth. She takes him to task about his whole life before he goes out to be judged by the Special Criminal Court.' Film director Mark's new movie Amongst the Wolves stars actor Luke McQuillan as former British army soldier Danny. Ex-trooper Danny ends up homeless after returning to Dublin and struggles to survive alone until he meets Will, portrayed by young actor Daniel Fee, a teenage drug dealer on the run from a gang leader played by Aidan Gillen. One US film website hailed the Irish movie 'as beautifully shot and rich in atmosphere' and compared director Mark to This Is England creator Shane Meadows. The Monk runs at The Glass Mask Theatre on Bestseller Cafe, Dawson Street, Dublin from June 10-21.
The Irish Sun
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Irish Sun
‘Increasingly unstable' – Irish soldiers ‘safe' in Lebanon after being fired at by Israeli army while on patrol
IRISH soldiers serving as peacekeepers in southern Lebanon have come under fire near Israel's blueline. A number of rounds were fired at our troops today while they were on a joint patrol with the 2 Harris insisted the incident underlines the dangers that Defence Forces personnel face Credit: PA 2 Hundreds of Irish troops are currently posted in Lebanon Credit: Kenneth O'Halloran - The Sun Dublin Mr Harris said: 'I have been briefed on an incident in southern Lebanon whereby Irish soldiers were fired at by an IDF patrol close to the Blue Line.' The incident took place this morning close to the village of Yaroun. A joint Irish UNIFIL and Lebanese Armed Forces patrol were forced to withdraw from the area, although there were no injuries reported. Read more in News But Mr Harris insisted the incident underlines the dangers that Defence Forces personnel face as they continue to maintain peace in Southern Lebanon. He said: 'I want to firstly send my best wishes to the Irish Defence Forces personnel affected in today's incident. 'While am very pleased to report that all personnel are safe and well, the fact they came under fire while on patrol is deeply worrying. 'Today's incident illustrates the dangers that our peacekeepers face every single day while on a patrol in a region that has been increasingly unstable and volatile.' Most read in Irish News Mr Martin added: 'The safety of peacekeepers carrying out their mandated duties must be respected by all. Fortunately all Irish troops are safe and well.' Simon Harris confirms Irish peacekeepers in Lebanon are safe amid conflict escalation Oglaigh na hEireann confirmed a number of small arms rounds were fired in the vicinity of the area where Irish soldiers were operating. They said: 'The patrol withdrew from the area, there were no injuries to the personnel on the patrol and no damage reported to the armoured vehicles they were operating from. 'All personnel of the Irish Contingent in Lebanon are reported to be safe and well, they continue to monitor the situation in southern Lebanon and are committed to the stability of the region as impartial peacekeepers. 'We wish to remind all actors of their responsibility to ensure the safety and security of UN peacekeepers.'
The Irish Sun
3 days ago
- The Irish Sun
‘Spared' by gang then shot in head – Secret exchanges of ex-Provo & innocent Dublin postie condemned to ‘living death'
INNOCENT postman Robert Delany was told his life would be spared by an ex-IRA man — before he was blasted in the head. The secret exchanges between 4 Robert's parents Terry and Noeleen Delany with his two daughters Megan and Katie Credit: Gary Ashe-Commissioned by The Sun Dublin 4 Robert pictured with his daughter Megan Credit: Gary Ashe-Commissioned by The Sun Dublin 4 Robert's two daughters Kati, 17, and Megan 23 Credit: Gary Ashe-Commissioned by The Sun Dublin Robert, now 43, was And it was all because he'd tried to break up a fight involving a son of the veteran republican just a few months earlier. He survived the attempt on his life but continues to suffer what doctors have termed a 'living death'. Now, almost 17 years on from the barbaric attack, Robert's family have revealed their ongoing trauma in the three-part podcast. Read more in News Listen to This Is Robert from Thursday May 29 on As the shooting victim continues to receive 24-hour care, his parents Terry and Noeleen outlined details of their son's deadly betrayal. Terry said: 'Robert was keeping a low profile after the fight because he knew they were after him — they wanted to find out who he was. 'But then he took the initiative and went to see the young lad's father — a well known criminal. 'Robert met him in a local Most read in The Irish Sun 'He apologised for what happened, explained the circumstances and was told 'it's OK, don't worry about it'. 'Robert immediately relaxed his guard and we were also told they wanted €20,000 off him — but we could never prove that.' Robert Delany's family recall first Christmas without him just months after shooting Reflecting on the assurance Robert received, Terry added: 'The guards said to me that Robert was very naive — the criminal was never going to let this go. 'The criminal's ego had been blunted and Robert had sadly set himself up by meeting him. 'I think that goes to demonstrate how innocent he was — he actually sought out the criminal to apologise. 'UNDER THREAT' 'Robert was under threat — he realised shortly after the incident who he was dealing with. 'He realised he was in trouble and that it wasn't going to go away. 'He took the initiative to go and meet this guy, in the hope that he could sort it out himself without bringing any pressure on us — but sadly that didn't work.' Terry added: 'We were told by his friends that Robert was keeping a low profile, that he was changing his shifts in work and working later. 'We only found this out after the event. We knew that something had happened but didn't quite know what it was. He never told us.' CAMPAIGN FOR JUSTICE Reflecting on his campaign for justice, dad Terry revealed: 'We just said from day one we're not going to be intimidated by anybody. 'We spoke to the guards about security measures we should take. 'We took a conscious decision that we were going to highlight Robert's case at every opportunity.' Robert's mum Noeleen also reveals how she believes the meeting was arranged as they 'wanted to find out who he was' and 'follow him'. Although Real IRA hitman Daniel Gaynor was responsible for the shooting, At the time, Gaynor was a contract killer for the Real NO CHARGE FOR SHOOTING By then, the veteran republican had been abandoned by the mainstream republican movement over the shooting. He had started associating with dissident republicans led by former Real IRA boss Alan Ryan. The ex-Provo was probed about the shooting but was never charged. Gaynor was also questioned but would never stand trial. He was shot dead by Keith Wilson in August 2010. 'The guards said to me that Robert was very naive — the criminal was never going to let this go." Terry Delany Robert's family still believe that it's not too late for anyone to be charged with orchestrating the attempt on their son's life. The new podcast will also hear from the former senior Garda who led the investigation into the shooting. Pat Lordan, who retired in 2023 after 37 years' service, still hopes that the criminal who ordered the attack can be brought to justice. 'HORRIFIC CRIME' Mr Lordan told us: 'This was a horrific crime against a young man who was doing his level best for his family. 'He was just trying to look after his family. 'There was a viewpoint that this was a case of mistaken identity among the investigators. 'But that, as we know, was not the case. We also got information early on that people had been told not to speak up. 'I think the words used would have been 'dead people can't talk'. 'This would be common enough but people do talk — no matter who they are. 'The best of criminals talk and trust in people.' 'UNUSUAL CASE' The former officer added: 'This was the most unusual case and a difficult one for us Gardai to work on because the culprits didn't have to and never did set foot in Robert Delany's apartment. 'Robert was attacked in his own home. A shotgun fired at him, badly injuring him, leaving him with life-threatening injuries which he has not succumbed to. 'He's really had a horrific time for all these years — struggling through as a result of the injuries he sustained that day.' GANG CULTURE RIFE THEN ROBERT Delany was shot at a time when gangland crime in Dublin was rampant. In 2008, Eamon 'The Don' Dunne was running one of the capital's most dangerous drugs gangs, two years after orchestrating the murder of his mentor Marlo Hyland. But the Dublin brigade of the Real IRA was also a powerful force and had access to an arsenal of weapons. They used the threat of republican violence to tax drug dealers via various forms of extortion. They warned dealers they'd be shot if they didn't pay protection money to support their 'cause'. Daniel Gaynor was among those used to intimidate. And at this time, the Wilsons were at the heart of murder in Dublin. The gun-for-hire family, led by Eric 'Lucky' Wilson, killed at least 12 people. It all began when Eric murdered his former best friend in a row over drugs in 2005. He then became the go-to guy for gangsters Eamon Dunne, Marlo Hyland and the Kinahans. But Eric went on to murder a man in a Spanish bar in 2010 and was later caged for 23 years. Robert's sister Sinead and his two daughters will also reveal their trauma on the three-part podcast. We will also meet Robert. THIS Is Robert is brought to you by the producers of the Kinahans and the Stardust Tragedy podcasts. Listen to This Is Robert from Thursday May 29 on 4 Robert with his daughter Megan aged 6 Credit: Gary Ashe-Commissioned by The Sun Dublin
