'No sentence could ever be enough for monster that took Tina from us'

WIFE-KILLER Richard Satchwell has been sentenced to life in prison - as a sister of his victim labelled him "a monster."

- BY PAUL HEALY Crime Correspondent

Judge Paul McDermott offered his condolences to the family of the late Tina Dingivan, 45, as he jailed her husband Satchwell, 58, for the mandatory term of life in prison.

The sentence comes after a jury last week convicted Satchwell of the murder of his wife - who he callously buried beneath the stairs of their home in Grattan Street, Youghal, Co Cork, in March 2017, then claiming she was missing for over six-and-a-half years.

Satchwell's 14 previous convictions include larceny from a shop, theft and taking a cheque book containing 14 cheques from an employer.

Speaking in powerful victim impact statements read out in court, Lorraine Howard, a sister of Tina, and Sarah Howard, her cousin, said they could never forgive Satchwell for what he had done - or the lies he had told about her.

He also said that Satchwell wanted to state that despite what was said during the trial, "Tina was a lovely person.

Lorraine told the court that she and Tina were "inseparable growing up in Fermoy as kids".

"We did all the usual kids things, play, went to school, got into mischief but always had each other's backs," she told the court.

"From as long as I can remember Tina loved animals, there was always cats and dogs following around Tina. She hated seeing any animal neglected or in pain.

GENTLE

"She was so kind-hearted, I often remember myself and Tina bringing stray animals to the vet and the vet not being able to say no to us or turn us away. That was Tina - she was gentle and had such a soft and loving soul."

Lorraine added: "Tina's love of fashion was portrayed as a negative throughout the trial. We all have our interests and likes, it just so happened Tina's was fashion.

"She saved her money and spent it on clothes, she would often buy clothes for family members as presents. Tina did not drink, go out, and fashion was her escape. Fashion in a sense saved her.