The murder trial of Richard Satchwell has revealed chilling new details, including how his wife Tina’s remains were uncovered under the stairs in their Cork home, over six years after she was reported missing.
A specially trained cadaver dog named Fern, handled by expert Alan Ward, alerted investigators to a concealed area in October 2023. Initially blocked by furniture, the spot beneath the stairs was later cleared, revealing human remains wrapped in plastic.
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Gardaí had arrested Satchwell just as the search intensified. Video footage and crime scene images shown to the jury captured the cluttered interior, including tools, animal waste, and a parrot. Photos documented the excavation of Tina’s body, buried 74cm beneath the floor.
During his interview, Satchwell claimed Tina changed emotionally after her brother’s 2012 suicide, becoming volatile and distant. He said she often threatened to leave him, and their sex life ceased entirely. He admitted feeling useless but insisted he never pressured her. Satchwell claimed he endured physical abuse in silence and described himself as financially dependent on Tina.
Gardaí later challenged his narrative, citing conflicting witness statements. Satchwell dismissed these as mistakes. He was arrested again after the remains were formally identified.
