Ireland Crime

Reports testimony from GP Patrick Burke at the ongoing trial, including Satchwell's claims of being assaulted by his wife, his condition at a May 2017 consultation, and details of his 2023 interviews with gardaí in which he described holding his wife by the bathrobe belt until she 'got heavier'.

Day 11 of trial: Det Sgt Noonan's second-arrest interview played to jury showing Satchwell's account shifting; FSI examiner Brian Gorey testifies on 15 glass shards from Tina Satchwell's remains, concluding they were deposited shortly before burial.

Day 10 of trial; jury heard recordings of two October 2023 interviews at Cobh Garda Station in which Satchwell described the death of Tina, said she attacked him with a chisel, told Det Sgt Noonan he knew he was going to prison, and denied premeditation when Det Garda McSweeney pointed to his actions within two hours of the death.

Trial testimony from Satchwell's interviews with gardaí in which he described his wife's death, and Sgt Noonan's response that the account was 'most likely a physical impossibility'. Satchwell also said he was 'going to prison' and would 'plead guilty' despite pleading not guilty at trial.

Day 10 of trial; recording of October 2023 interview at Cobh Garda Station played to jury; Satchwell described his account of Tina's death (chisel attack, rope belt, her body weight) and accused Det Sgt Noonan of trying to 'bury' him; he said Tina had been violent to him for over 30 years and that he buried her under the house as a 'genuine funeral'.

Satchwell's detailed account to gardaí of strangling and burying his wife, plus forensic anthropologist testimony that no bone injuries were found at the time of death.

Ninth day of trial: jury heard Satchwell's account of the incident in a garda interview at Cobh Garda Station, and forensic anthropologist Laureen Buckley testified that no fractures were found on Tina's remains, including a bone often broken in strangulation cases.

Live blog from 12-13 May 2025 trial proceedings detailing the forensic archaeologist's testimony on the search and excavation, the discovery of the body under the staircase, the condition of the remains, and items found with the body including a dressing gown, purse with ID cards, and glass shards from the head and arm.

Eighth day of trial; forensic archaeologist Dr McCullagh described the search and discovery of remains; gardai detailed the excavation; evidence of glass shards, dressing gown and purse contents presented.

Adds testimony from forensic archaeologist Dr Niamh McCullagh on clandestine burial patterns, evidence from Detective Garda Brian Barry and retired Det Sgt Shane Curran on the October 2023 invasive search and excavation, Det Garda Karen McCarthy's postmortem findings including a public-service card and glass shards, and the formal admission by the defence that the remains were those of Tina Satchwell.

Details the testimony of Retired Det Sgt Shane Curran and Det Garda Brian Barry on the search and excavation, the discovery of the black plastic and hand, the condition of the body, items found in the purse, and the post mortem at Cork University Hospital.

Trial evidence on monkey scam emails, quicklime Google search, cadaver dog discovery of body under the stairs, Satchwell's interview account of the night of March 19 and 20, and a DoneDeal ad giving away a chest freezer in August 2017.

Jury shown forensic photos of body in plastic bag, cadaver dog evidence from October 2023 search, and details of Satchwell's arrest interview including his responses about the cubby hole under the stairs and his relationship with Tina.

Day seven of trial: jury shown photos and video of human remains found under sitting room stairs; cadaver dog Fern's role in locating the remains detailed; Satchwell's October 2023 interview testimony about his wife's personality changes and physical altercations presented.

Day 7 of trial: jury shown video of garda interview where Satchwell was shown photos of cubby hole under stairs; testimony from victim recovery search dog handler Alan Ward about Fern indicating human remains under second step; Detective Garda Mairead Crowley's video and photos of the property; Detective Garda Mark Walton's internal survey showing 4-floor layout; locational data from 19 March 2017 discussed; Satchwell released from detention at 16:39 on 11 October 2023 due to max detention time.

Details from the trial about the Garda interview in which Satchwell was shown live photos of the cubby hole under the stairs, his statements about the marriage, sex life, and alleged violence, and the fact that he was released from custody at 4:49pm while the search of his home continued.

Day 6 of trial: jury heard Satchwell's full arrest interview where he alleged domestic abuse by his wife, plus testimony from multiple car boot sale witnesses and a DoneDeal ad for a chest freezer. Satchwell also alleged his wife came at him with a chisel and he defended himself with a belt.

New testimony on a Done Deal freezer ad posted days after the alleged murder, car boot sale witnesses describing Satchwell's claims about his wife's illness, forensic accountant evidence on the couple's finances, and the prosecution's opening address describing Satchwell's account of the killing with a chisel.

Day 6 of trial; jury shown first part of 2hr 47min garda interview video; car boot sale witnesses from April 2017; DoneDeal chest freezer ad evidence; Satchwell's account of 19-20 March 2017 given in interview

New evidence presented at trial: text messages from a phone linked to Satchwell about purchasing monkeys and his wife leaving, testimony from Supt Annemarie Twomey on the investigation timeline, and details of the 2017 non-invasive search versus the 2023 invasive search that found the body.

Day five of the trial heard evidence about the monkey purchase scam, a Google search for 'quicklime,' 299 text messages, CCTV and Google Maps tracking of Satchwell's movements on 20 March 2017, the financial forensics showing the couple's account was always in the red, and details of the invasive search of 3 Grattan Street in October 2023.

Evidence of emails to 'international monkey rescue organisation' on the day Satchwell said his wife died, testimony about the 2023 invasive search, and details about the investigation timeline from 2020 to 2023.

Adds details from Satchwell's June 2021 statement to Detective Sergeant David Noonan, including his belief that Tina was planning to leave him, her brother's suicide in 2012, and his observations on the morning she disappeared (keys on floor, mobile on countertop, dogs in sitting room, two suitcases gone, money box empty of €26,000).

Jury heard a transcript of a July 2021 interview in which Satchwell described his relationship with Tina, alleged she threatened to leave 'probably 200 times', detailed the car boot sale in Carrigtwohill on 19 March 2017, and recounted the morning of 20 March when she last left the house to go to Dungarvan. He also alleged she was molested at age 10 and that they never had sex again after her brother Tom's suicide in 2012.

Prosecution opening outlines Satchwell's account of the killing with a chisel, the storage of the body in a freezer and burial under the stairs; Garda testimony describes the June 2017 house search revealing new plasterboard and repair work; 2017-2018 media interviews played to the jury.

The trial heard multiple media interviews (RTE Prime Time, TV3, CryFM, RedFM, Ireland AM) from 2017-2018 in which Satchwell described Tina as having a 'flash temper' and claimed he never hit her. He described the morning of her disappearance, the €26,000 taken from a box upstairs, and his belief that she left with help from someone. The jury also heard that his remains were found under the staircase behind a brick wall and that he told gardai his wife came at him with a chisel and he used a belt to defend himself.

Second day of trial (30 April 2025) covering garda interviews, multiple radio interviews played in court, and evidence about the discovery of Tina Satchwell's body in October 2023.

Second day of trial evidence: gardaí suspicions during the missing persons inquiry, condition of the home during the June 2017 search, Mr Satchwell's statements to Inspector Holland at Midleton Garda Station, and video of his media appeals for Tina's return.

Day two of the trial: testimony about Satchwell's interview with gardai, the June 2017 house search, forensic blood testing, and his 2017 media interviews.

Day two of trial: Garda Whelan testifies on the June 2017 house search conditions and recent plaster work under the stairs; Garda Sergeant Sharkey describes the transition from missing persons to criminal investigation and the execution of the search warrant.

Day one and two of the trial; prosecution opened its case reading Satchwell's 2017 statements; Garda witnesses James Butler and Thomas Keane gave evidence about their 2017 interactions with Satchwell; Satchwell's statements describe Tina's disappearance and his account of events on 19–20 March 2017; decomposed remains identified as Tina Satchwell.

Prosecution case outlined: Satchwell told gardaí his wife tried to stab him with a chisel, he used her dressing gown belt to fend her off, then buried her under the sitting room floor. He reported her missing at Fermoy Garda station on 24 March 2017. Remains found 11 October 2023; pathologist unable to state cause of death. Trial expected to run up to six weeks before Mr Justice Paul McDermott.

Prosecution opening statement details Satchwell's account of the killing, the discovery of decomposed remains in October 2023, his changed narrative, and earlier statements to gardaí.

Prosecution opens its case; Satchwell's full account of the incident (wife attacked with chisel, he used dressing gown belt); details of how the body was concealed (freezer, then buried under sitting room floor); timeline of gardaí interactions from March to May 2017; CCTV and phone data inconsistencies; email to monkey rescue organisation on the day of disappearance; decomposed remains found October 2023; Satchwell's statements about his wife's 'violent outbursts' and his own account of the relationship.

Opening of the prosecution's case at the Central Criminal Court, detailing Satchwell's Garda interview account, the discovery of Tina's remains, and multiple inconsistencies in his narrative including CCTV, emails, and financial evidence.

Jury empanelled and trial commenced; Satchwell pleaded not guilty. Details on counsel, witnesses and trial logistics provided.

Arraignment and not-guilty plea; jury of 12 empanelled; trial listed for six weeks before Mr Justice Paul McDermott; witness list includes gardaí, State Pathologist, forensic and ballistic witnesses, and witnesses from a building company in Midleton.

Provides detailed background on the couple's relationship history, the discovery of Tina's remains under the floor in October 2023, the arrest and charging process, and confirms the trial is set to begin on 28 April 2025 with defence counsel Brendan Grehan SC and prosecution counsel Geraldine Small SC.