Vigil for Tina Satchwell in Youghal hears how 'she put a smile on everyone's face'

THE late Tina Satchwell was an “angel” who will “always be in the hearts” of her family, a vigil in Youghal heard.

Around 200 people attended a gathering in memory of the 45-year-old on Saturday in the town where Tina lived the final years of her life.

Ms Satchwell, nee Dingivan, was a native of Fermoy. She moved in to a house in Grattan Street in Youghal two years before her death. Locals say that she was a friendly, warm lady who was often seen out walking her dogs.

The Dingivan family told how they were devastated in a message that they sent to the organisers of a vigil in Youghal on Saturday afternoon when more than 200 people gathered to pay their respects to Ms Satchwell.

Another vigil will take place in her native Fermoy on Monday evening at 6pm.

In Youghal, parish priest Canon Bill Bermingham read out a message at the vigil on behalf of the Dingivan family. Tina was the youngest of five girls in the tight-knit family. She also had three brothers.

In a statement, the Dingivan family said that it was hard to find the right words “to describe the pain” in their hearts at the loss of their loved one.

“Tina if we knew the last time we met was going to be our last we would have hugged you extra tight.

“She would put a smile on everyone’s face. She loved positivity. Everyone that loved and knew her cherished the moments they spent with you.

“Fly high our angel. You will always be in our hearts.”

At the vigil, Canon Bermingham prayed for the family of Ms Satchwell.

He also asked attendees to “spare a thought” for householders in Grattan Street in the town.

“We pray today for Tina’s family as we gather here, and I would like you also to spare a thought for Tina’s neighbours here on the Mall in Grattan Street because it is a very distressing time for them knowing that such an occurrence happened in their midst,” said Canon Bermingham.

Members of the public previously placed flowers outside the house where the remains of Tina were found on Wednesday night by gardaí who were carrying out a search of the premises.

The gathering of more than 200 people at the vigil took place just over 100m from where Tina lived near the small beach overlooking Youghal Bay.

A candlelit vigil in memory of Ms Satchwell is planned in Fermoy on Monday evening in the town park where she loved to walk her dogs.

Noel McCarthy, a county councillor based in Fermoy, told The Echo that people in the town want to show their respect for Ms Satchwell’s memory and their support for her family.

“Following phone calls from numerous people... asking would Fermoy try and remember Tina in some way, I decided to contact a few people and I asked could we organise a vigil to remember Tina, and they said they would be delighted to do it,” said Mr McCarthy.

“The community is coming together on Monday evening at 6pm in the town park, at the bandstand, where people are asked to leave a candle as a mark of respect to Tina.”

Ms Satchwell often walked her dogs in the town park in her home town, a place she loved.

“I used to see Tina regularly because I have a business near where she used to live when she lived in Fermoy,” said Mr McCarthy.

"She always had a nice, friendly smile and she always said hello.”

He said Ms Satchwell had never been far from the thoughts of her friends and former neighbours in Fermoy over the years that she had been missing.