Tina Satchwell case: Man (50s) released without charge as search operation continues

By David Young and Cillian Sherlock, PA

A man in his 50s held over the disappearance of Co Cork woman Tina Satchwell has been released without charge.

He was arrested on Tuesday on suspicion of murder and detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 at Cobh Garda Station.

Gardaí are continuing a major search operation at a property in Youghal, Co Cork, on Wednesday.

Ms Satchwell, originally from Fermoy, has been missing from her home in Youghal since March 2017.

Heavy machinery was taken on to the site of the property where the search was focused on Wednesday, and a large screen has been erected around the building and grounds.

Gardaí investigating the circumstances of Ms Satchwell’s disappearance have upgraded their inquiries to a murder investigation.

Minister for Justice Helen McEntee stressed the need to give families of missing people hope as she commented on developments in the Satchwell case.

“When it comes to any missing persons case, whether it’s a more recent case, or whether it’s one that might be decades old, it’s so important that we always give families hope,” Ms McEntee told reporters in Dublin. “And that is exactly what is happening here.

“Where new evidence comes to light, gardaí obviously take that on board, but also, where no new evidence comes to light, they will often ask the general public for more information, they’ll ask people to wrack their memories or their brains for anything that might help them solve a particular case that might help them identify where a person is.

“We also have advancements in technology, investments in forensic science as well where new evidence comes to light.

“So, really, the approach that the gardaí take is, where possible they will always continue to work on a case to give families that hope to identify a person and to importantly, as well, bring whoever is responsible, if there is a murder case, to bring them to justice.

“And obviously, as minister, I support the gardaí in anything that they need to be able to make those discoveries.”