Karen Harrington has been found guilty of murdering toddler Santina Cawley.
The 38-year-old now faces a life sentence for the murder of the 2-year-old.
Cork toddler Santina Cawley died from blunt force trauma in July 2019.
Today, the jury found Ms. Harrington guilty of murder.
She pleaded not guilty to the charges.
She told the court that she would never harm a child, but the evidence told another story.
Ms. Harrington stressed that she had no reason to hurt little Santina.
She told Gardaí, “I would never, ever harm no baby. I would harm no child – I am around children all my life. I’ve never hurt a child in my life.”
Ms. Harrington stressed, “I did not murder Santina. I didn’t murder anybody.
She claimed she has no “recollection” of the night Santina died, but multiple witnesses heard her screaming and banging doors on the night of her death.
A 38-year old woman has been found guilty at the Central Criminal Court in #Cork of the murder of two-year old Santina Cawley at an apartment in the city three years ago.
Karen Harrington, with an address at Lakelands Crescent, Mahon, in Cork, had denied the charge. @rtenews pic.twitter.com/JhNCOmokp1
— Paschal Sheehy (@PaschalSheehy) May 16, 2022
Assistant State Pathologist Dr. Margaret Bolster told the court Santina’s injuries were not accidental.
She said the young girl was struck on or with something.
Santina suffered such a traumatic brain injury that she would have gone into a coma immediately.
The little girl also had multiple fractures, as well as damage to her skull and spinal cord.
Harrington was alone in an apartment with Santina on the night of her death.
“Witnesses told the court they heard Ms. Harrington screaming inside and outside of her flat”
Santina’s father, Michael Cawley, had gone walking in Cork city after 3 am. Mr. Cawley was reportedly looking for his cousin.
He then returned to the apartment shortly after 5 am. He found his daughter naked and blood-splattered with critical injuries.
Ms. Harrington fled the scene but returned an hour later with a friend.
Witnesses told the court they heard Ms. Harrington screaming inside and outside of her flat in the early hours of the morning on July 5th.
They said they could also hear a child crying too.
Neighbours also heard doors being slammed.
