TINA Satchwell’s sister paid tribute to her “beautiful angel” after gardai confirmed remains found under the stairs of her home were those of the missing 45-year-old.
Investigators believe Tina Satchwell was killed in her home, possibly in her bedroom, and then hidden under the stairs for over six years until Gardai found her body last Wednesday evening.
Investigating officers are trying to determine if the renovation work to create a makeshift grave in the house was done shortly after Tina was murdered or if the body was held somewhere else until the attention died down and then brought back to her home.
The discovery that the remains are Tina’s has brought some peace to her heartbroken family who have paid tribute to her.
Tina, who loved stylish clothes and her pet dogs, was reported missing by her husband Richard four days after she disappeared on March 20, 2017.
The grisly discovery was made by Gardai on Wednesday during an extensive search of the house and its garden on Grattan Street, Youghal, Co Cork, where the couple had been living.
The body, taken from the under-stairs space which originally housed a downstairs toilet, was identified by experts using dental records.
DNA samples have also been taken but Gardai are already confident it is Tina’s body.
Teresa Dingivan, Tina’s sister, said she is now with her mother and can fly high in heaven.
Posting to Facebook today, Teresa 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.”
The heartbroken family, who had hoped against hope that vibrant Tina would be found alive now face a period of waiting while tests are completed before they will be able to bring her home.
But they are happy that they will finally get some peace and closure and that beloved Tina will receive a Christian burial.
Youghal priest Father Bill Bermingham, who was contacted by Gardai before the remains were taken to Cork University Hospital morgue, called to the house to say prayers for her.
He said: “There is a great sadness that such a thing would have happened in such a peaceful town.”
He was called to the scene at 3pm on Thursday.
He said: “At that time, the pathologists were just leaving the house and the local undertaker was coming with a hearse.
“He placed the coffin on the pavement outside the door and the remains were brought from the house, concealed in a cover, and placed in the coffin.
“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.”
Tina’s husband of 25 years, Richard, was first arrested on Tuesday evening as he returned home from work in his refrigerated van.
He was held for questioning for 24 hours in Cobh Garda Station and released without charge on Wednesday.
He was rearrested on Thursday and is to appear in court in Cashel, Co Tipperary, this morning charged in connection with Tina’s murder,
A spokesperson for An Garda Siochana said last night: “The man, aged in his 50s, arrested by Gardai investigating the murder of Tina Satchwell, has been charged.
“He will appear before a special sitting of Cashel District Court at 10.30am tomorrow morning, Saturday, 14th October 2023.”
Gardai searching the house moved in with a variety of equipment and tools, including Kango hammers, pickaxes and other tools for ground breaking.
The following day mini diggers and garden-clearing equipment arrived at the terraced house.
On Wednesday evening the major breakthrough happened when cadaver dog Fern got a scent inside the house in the vicinity of the stairs.
Gardai moved into the space, breaking up the concrete floor and uncovering an area covered over with earth.
They proceeded with extreme caution in removing the earth and a few feet down they discovered what they surmised to be a body wrapped in plastic.
According to sources the area under the stairs was originally a downstairs toilet.
The toilet had been removed and a space a few metres deep was dug where Tina’s body was found hidden.
The space was then blocked up with concrete blocks and plastered over to make it look like part of the house.
