Missing Cork woman Tina SatchwellTwitter
Up to 60 gardai are searching a woodland in East Cork for missing woman Tina Satchwell.
The intensive search is being carried out after garda received a "key piece of information" regarding the 45-year-old's disappearance.
Satchwell’s husband Richard told 3News Ireland that he is “shocked” that the woodland has become integral to the investigation.
Missing Tina Satchwell
The heartbroken man told the outlet he is still “hoping that Tina (above) is out there and she’s going to get in touch”.
Satchwell has been missing from her home in Youghal since March 2017. She was last seen by her husband before he left home to go shopping.
Mitchel’s Wood at Bridgetown near Castlemartyr is now the subject of a major search operation that could take up to three weeks.
A search of woodlands in Castlemartyr Co Cork will take place tomorrow as part of the investigation in the disappearance of #TinaSatchwell. @ pic.twitter.com/1L2HdjaSKU
— Paul Byrne (@PaulByrne_1) March 4, 2018
Supt. Colm Noonan stated the members of the public would not be granted access to the sealed-off East Cork location until further notice.
The Midleton-based garda has appealed for anyone with information about activity in the woods from March 2017 to come forward.
Gardaí have sealed off a 40-acre area of woodlands close to the village of #Castlemartyr in East #Cork and will begin a search there in the morning as part of their investigation into the disappearance of #TinaSatchwell. @rtenews pic.twitter.com/qUpArxI5vX
— Paschal Sheehy (@PaschalSheehy) March 4, 2018
He added that detectives working on the case have thus far followed over 220 leads relating to the woman’s disappearance.
Satchwell's husband told TV reporters that he is "hopeful" his wife will still return to their home.
EXCLUSIVE: The husband of missing Cork woman Tina Satchwell has told 3News that he was shocked to learn of a major Garda search as part of the investigation into her disappearance. Woodland has been sealed off as detectives begin looking for evidence that may solve the mystery. pic.twitter.com/GrfCY5t7kC
— 3News (@3NewsIreland) March 5, 2018
"I'm hoping that Tina is out there and she's going to get in touch," he told 3News.
"I don't want to even go down the road of thinking the other way because I won't be able to cope. I feel sick. I've been in touch with Tina's family and they're the same way."
"The worry is always there," he said when asked about the possibility her body may be found, but denied he had any involvement in her disappearance.
"I could never harm my wife. Never. Everybody who knows us knows that," he said.
"My wife is there somewhere and I do believe she's going to turn up and it will all be put to bed."