The garda file on the Tina Satchwell case is at an “advanced stage” and will be with the DPP by the end of the week, Clonmel District Court has heard.
Richard Satchwell, 57, appeared by video link in the Tipperary court this morning having previously been charged with the murder of his wife on 20 March 2017 at a location in Cork.
Mr Satchwell was charged with murder after gardaí found the skeletal remains of Tina in October of last year while excavating a concrete floor and walled up area underneath the stairwell of their home in Grattan Street in Youghal, Co Cork.
Superintendent Adrian Gamble told Judge Brian O’Shea that gardaí had handed over the file on the murder to State Solicitor for South Cork Jerry Healy.
“I can assure you the entire file is with Mr Healy today. I personally oversaw that. He has assured me the file will be with the director (DPP) this week,” he said.
Judge O’Shea noted that Mr Satchwell had been in custody for over eleven weeks.
“I know these investigations are complex, but you don’t have to all the bells and whistles attached before the file can be sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions.”
Supt Gamble stated that the file contained expert reports which were outside the control of An Garda Síochána.
Judge O’Shea asked defence solicitor Eddie Burke if Mr Satchwell would consent to either a three or four-week remand.
Mr Burke said that his client consented to a two-week long remand.
Judge O’Shea remanded Mr Satchwell in custody to appear again in Clonmel court on 16 January.
