Justice minister: Cadaver dog should have been used earlier in search of Tina Satchwell's home
Justice minister Jim O'Callaghan said it would be preferable if Ireland had its own cadaver dog but that that decision was up to the Garda Commissioner. Picture: Stephen Collins
The justice minister has admitted that it would be preferable if a cadaver dog had been used earlier in the search for Tina Satchwell, nee Dingivan, whose remains were found buried beneath her sitting room floor more than six years after she disappeared.
Jim O’Callaghan also said that it would be preferable if Ireland had its own cadaver dog.
The State currently relies on borrowing a cadaver dog from the PSNI in the North, but this highly-trained dog is also used by police in Britain.
“It would be preferable if the cadaver dog that was available on the island had been used earlier [in the Tina Dingivan search],” Mr O’Callaghan told RTÉ.
While he said that he did not believe Ireland’s lack of its own cadaver dog was “hampering” garda investigations, gardaí having their own cadaver dog “would be preferable”, Mr O’Callaghan said.
Funding has been granted for the expansion of the garda dog unit but Mr O'Callaghan told RTÉ that it was up to the Garda Commissioner what that funded and whether it should include a cadaver dog.
The cadaver dog borrowed from the PSNI had been “of much assistance” in the discovery of Tina Satchwell's, remains, he said.
However, he said, cadaver dogs are very specialised, highly-trained animals with a short working life, only being operational for about three years.
Tina Dingivan was reported missing by her husband Richard Satchwell on March, 24, 2017.
Gardaí searched the Satchwells' house in Youghal on June 7, 2017.
Up to 10 gardaí searched the premises for 12 hours and a forensic scientist used luminol to detect any blood traces but none were found.
No cadaver dog was used in this initial search.
However, photos were taken of new building work around the stairwell in the sitting room on the ground floor.
During a subsequent review of the missing persons' case, this building work was noted and an invasive search was ordered in October 2023, with particular directions to thoroughly search this area. A cadaver dog was used in this search.
The floor was excavated where the newer building work had been done under the staircase. When a sheet of black plastic was found in the earth, cadaver dog Fern was brought in and confirmed human remains were buried there.
Mr O’Callaghan commended gardaí for finding Ms Satchwell’s remains and apprehending Mr Satchwell, who is now serving a life sentence for her murder.
However, he said that he raised concerns with Garda Commissioner Drew Harris about the length of time it took to find her remains.
Mr Harris has promised to prepare a report on this, the minister said.
"There are very devious people out there," Mr O'Callaghan said.
Mike Gaine disappeared from his Kerry farm on March, 20.
An extensive search was launched for the 56-year-old sheep farmer.
Some two months later, human tissue was located on his farm outside Kenmare in Co Kerry.
At his funeral on Saturday, Mr Gaine was remembered as “loving, caring and affectionate” and “fearless and strong,” a popular character with a ‘let's go and enjoy ourselves’ glint in his eye."
Mr O'Callaghan said gardaí were conducting a thorough inquiry into the farmer's death.
On Friday, the garda commissioner announced reviews into the murders of both Mr Gaine and Ms Satchwell.
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