'The nicest person you could meet': Tina Satchwell remembered as funeral cortège passes family home
Of Tina Funeral Cortège Satchell Linehan Picture: Dan The
Family, friends and neighbours lined the streets of St Bernards Place, Fermoy, Co Cork, to say their final farewells to Tina Satchwell.
Ms Satchwell, nee Dingivan, was 45 when she disappeared from her home in Youghal, Co Cork six and half years ago.
The body of Ms Satchwell was found at her home by gardaí searching the property on October 11. She had been reported missing on March 24, 2017.
The case was upgraded to a murder probe earlier this month, having previously been treated as a missing persons case. Her husband, Richard Satchwell, has been charged with her murder.
Her uncle, Frankie Dingivan, who grew up like a brother to Tina, stood solemnly outside the Fermoy home they shared as children.
Neighbours hugged him and squeezed his hand before the funeral cortège passed through the street.
Tina’s first cousin, Nan Power, who grew up down the road in Fermoy and later lived in the UK at the same time as Tina, said that her cousin was universally loved.
“She was a beautiful girl. She’d help you when you were sick," she said, adding that she always had a smile on her face.
“She was so kind and gentle.”
Joanie McCarthy, who grew up on the same street with Ms Satchwell said that the town was in mourning.
“There’s a gloom, a deadness in the area. The whole place is in shock.
“We were neighbours in two places — here in St Bernard's Place and later in Mac Gearilt Place. She was so bubbly, she always seemed happy. She loved her dogs, she lived for them.
“She was so positive. She was the nicest person you could meet on the planet. No one ever had a bad word to say about her."
Another neighbour, JJ O’Connor, said that he played hopscotch and marbles with Ms Satchwell as a child.
The street had a tight-knit community with the children growing up together like one big family, he said.
“We used to play on the street and up there where the funeral home is now [at the top of St Bernard’s Place]
“It’s very, very sad to look at that funeral home today and think of what happened to Tina. She was such a friendly child.
“We’re out here standing guard to show our respect to Tina today, but we’re trying to give the family space too. It’s a very difficult time for them.”
Another neighbour, Mary McCarthy, has lived on the street for 60 years and she said Tina had been "a lovely little girl".
“She was reared in that house [across the road], she used to play with my daughter Tracey. There is such shock and sadness in the community today."