GARDAI should be equipped with a cadaver dog, the Justice Minister admits.
Concerns have been raised over how long it took cops to nail monster Richard Satchwell, who killed his wife Tina and cruelly buried her body under the stairs of their home.
Evil Satchwell, 58 was last week sentenced to life in prison for the murder of Tina, 45, in their house in Cork in 2017.
But investigators have come under fire after it took more than six and a half years before gardai discovered Ms Satchwell had never left their home at Grattan Street in Youghal.
The original investigation at the time of Tina’s disappearance have been blasted for failing to utilise a cadaver dog.
It wasn’t until 2023 that springer spaniel Fern and her handler helped gardai make a breakthrough in the case under a new investigating team who launched a full review of the case file.
The dog, provided by the PSNI on foot of a mutual assistance request from gardai, led officers to a concrete area under the stairs in Ms Satchwell’s home in Youghal where they found her remains.
Retired detective inspector Pat Marry has insisted the original investigating team should have searched the Satchwell home with a cadaver dog, branding it a “missed opportunity”.
Speaking last night, Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan revealed how he has now raised concerns with the Garda Commissioner Drew Harris about how long it took gardai to uncover Tina’s body.
Asked whether a cadaver dog should have been used by the original investigating team, the Minister said probably this should have been the case.
O’Callaghan pointed out there was only one trained dog on the island of Ireland, used by the PSNI.
But the Justice Minister admitted it would be “preferable” if gardai had their own cadaver dogs, which are specially trained to detect human remains.
He conceded: “It obviously would be preferable if we had a cadaver dog.”
The Minister outlined how the animals only had a limited work life of around three years and had to go through a difficult training process.
Asked if a cadaver dog would be included in the funding for the Garda Dog Unit, O’Callaghan said it was up to the Commissioner how funds would be spent.
REVIEW OF INVESTIGATION
Garda chief Harris has confirmed a review of the investigation into Tina’s murder is underway.
The outgoing commissioner has said it may seem “very obvious in hindsight” that Mrs Satchwell was buried under the stairs of her home.
A report on the Satchwell investigation is to be furnished to Justice Minister O’Callaghan and the Policing and Community Safety Authority.
While Minister O’Callaghan commended the gardai for their investigation, he last night stressed it took a considerable period of time for her body to be uncovered.
And as he awaits the review of the investigation, O’Callagan insisted he would have preferred that Tina’s body was discovered sooner.
He said: “That wasn’t done and I will get a report on that, but justice has been done in her case.
“There are very devious people out there. There are very devious murderers who go to a very great length to hide their crimes.”
Tragic Tina Satchwell’s remains were found under the stairs of her home[/caption]
