Garda Commissioner confirms review into Tina Satchwell case amid scrutiny of 2017 house search

Tina Satchwell. File photo

The Garda Commissioner has confirmed that the force is conducting a review of the Tina Satchwell and Michael Gaine murder investigations, following questions about whether their remains should have been discovered sooner.

The review of the Satchwell killing will be submitted to the Minister for Justice and the Policing and Community Safety Authority.

Drew Harris was asked if he was satisfied with how the initial 2017 search of the house — where Ms Satchwell's body was eventually found — was handled. 

He was also asked whether cadaver dogs should have been deployed, and if newly constructed walls or a noticeable smell should have raised suspicions.

"I know when you look with hindsight some of these things can seem very obvious," said Mr Harris. 

"But in the moment what was known... what was being said in terms of the victim by her husband - one has to recognise the victimology that was being applied here - his suppression of her, the coercive control that she was obviously subject to for many years, her isolation in that particular community.

"That meant there was very few other people we could speak to who was able to give a victimology and an idea of what Tina Satchwell's life was like."

He said the case was a complex investigation.

"Yes the house was searched in 2017," said Mr Harris. "Forensic scientists also accompanied that search. It was subject to thorough examination in effect looking for blood splatter and none was found."

He said the initial investigation was hamstrung because of the lack of information — especially when compared to the re-examination of the house six years later, during which Ms Satchwell’s body was discovered buried beneath the stairs.

"There was far more information to hand which gave us real grounds then for actual suspicion and then inquiries that we could lead," said the garda commissioner.

When asked if he was satisfied with how the original search was conducted, he replied: "It is very early for me to make a judgement on that. I want to see the papers and I think we want to review that ourselves.

"We have the expertise within the organisation and obviously we will report on that to the Minister and to the Policing and Community Safety Authority.

He acknowledged that the case highlighted a broader trend in how missing person cases evolve.

"I do think there are definitely lessons that we wish to learn from all of these homicides where it is a missing persons and then over time becomes a homicide investigation," he said. 

"We have seen a real pattern around that in recent years.

"We want to be sure going forward when we see a missing person report that we actually have an investigative mindset around a crime also being committed."

The garda commissioner said officers have reviewed all current missing persons reports and found no other homicide cases. He referenced Michael Gaine saying there had been criticisms of the garda investigation there and the fact that the Kerry farmer's were not initially fond. He said that case is now being subjected to a peer review as there is "learning around those who would commit crime and then dispose of the body and are often successful in disposing of the body".