Ireland Case No. 5641Murder · Co. Cork · 5 Jul 2019
Appeal dismissed in Cork murder of toddler Santina Cawley
Karen Harrington, a 40-year-old woman, was convicted by a jury in May 2022 of murdering two-year-old Santina Cawley at her apartment on Boreenmanna Road, Cork, in the early hours of 5 July 2019. The child, who had been left in Harrington's care by her father, suffered 53 separate injuries from blunt force trauma. Harrington was sentenced to mandatory life imprisonment by Mr Justice Michael MacGrath. The Court of Appeal dismissed her appeal on 6 June 2024, rejecting her argument that CCTV footage used in the investigation breached her privacy rights.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court10 Jul
4 reports - Convicted6 Jun
3 reports - Sentenced3 May
2 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Karen Harrington, 40, was convicted of murdering two-year-old Santina Cawley, with some reports giving the child's age as three.
- Where
- The murder took place at Harrington's apartment at Elderwood Park, Boreenmanna Road, Cork.
- When
- The killing occurred in the early hours of 5 July 2019, when Santina was left in Harrington's care by her father.
- Cause
- Santina died from blunt force trauma, with the post-mortem recording 53 separate injuries including traumatic brain injury, upper spinal cord injury, polytrauma, and lower limb injuries.
- Investigation
- CCTV footage from an address backing onto Harrington's duplex was used in the investigation and admitted as evidence at trial.
- In court
- A jury of seven men and four women returned a unanimous guilty verdict in May 2022 at the Central Criminal Court sitting in Cork before Mr Justice Michael MacGrath.
- The Court of Appeal dismissed Harrington's appeal on 6 June 2024, rejecting her argument that CCTV footage breached her privacy rights and upholding the conviction.
- Sentence
- Harrington was sentenced to mandatory life imprisonment.
- Other details
- Santina's father, Michael Cawley, said he believed Harrington deserved the death penalty and that there could be no rehabilitation for someone who kills a child.
- Harrington is serving her sentence in Limerick Prison and is expected to be moved to the new E53M women's prison.
75 statements extracted from the articles
- whatSantina Cauley, aged 2, was murdered by Karen Harrington. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatKaren Harrington killed two-year-old Santina Cawley. (corkbeo.ie)
- whatHarrington is serving a life sentence for the murder of Santina Cawley. (thejournal.ie)
- whatSantina had been left in Harrington's care when her father went into Cork City in the early hours of 5 July 2019. (thejournal.ie)
- whatSantina suffered a total of 53 separate injuries. (thejournal.ie, irishtimes.com)
- whatKaren Harrington is serving a life sentence for the murder of two-year-old Santina in Cork city in 2019. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe Court of Appeal dismissed Karen Harrington's appeal against her conviction for murder. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatKaren Harrington lost her appeal against her conviction for the murder of Santina. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatSantina's post-mortem recorded 49 external injuries and several internal haemorrhages. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe killing happened at an apartment on the Boreenmanna Road in Cork. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe killing took place at an apartment on Boreenmanna Road in Cork city. (corkbeo.ie)
- whereHarrington denied the murder at her apartment at Elderwood Park, Boreenmanna Road, Cork. (thejournal.ie)
- whereThe murder took place at an apartment in Cork city. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe murder took place at Harrington's apartment at Elderwood Park, Boreenmanna Road, Cork. (thejournal.ie)
- whereThe murder occurred at Harrington's apartment at Elderwood Park, Boreenmanna Road, Cork. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe killing took place in Cork. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereSantina was at Harrington's apartment at Elderwood Park, Boreenmanna Road, Cork. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe killing happened in July 2019. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe killing took place in 2019. (corkbeo.ie)
- whenSantina Cawley was murdered on 5 July 2019. (thejournal.ie)
- whenHarrington was convicted by a jury of Santina's murder in May 2022. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenSantina was left in Harrington's care when her father went into Cork City in the early hours of 5 July 2019. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe Court of Appeal judgment was delivered on 6 June 2024. (thejournal.ie)
- whenThe killing happened on 5 July 2019. (thejournal.ie)
- whenThe murder took place on 5 July 2019. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe Court of Appeal ruling was delivered on a Thursday. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe killing took place on 5 July 2019. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenSantina was murdered in July 2019. (irishmirror.ie)
- causeSantina died from traumatic brain injury, upper spinal cord injury, polytrauma and lower limb injuries, all caused by blunt force trauma. (thejournal.ie, irishmirror.ie)
- causeSantina suffered 53 separate injuries. (irishmirror.ie, thejournal.ie)
- causeThe child died from blunt force trauma. (thejournal.ie)
- investigationThe CCTV footage was taken from an address that backed onto Harrington's duplex. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationHarrington argued that CCTV footage of her home was a breach of her privacy and should not have been admitted at trial. (thejournal.ie)
- investigationCCTV footage was used in the investigation and was admitted as evidence at trial. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationBridget told gardaí and the Irish Prison Service about the letter, and gardaí were looking into it. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtA jury convicted Harrington of the murder in 2022. (thejournal.ie)
- courtAt the Court of Appeal, Harrington's barrister argued that CCTV footage taken from a neighbouring address breached her right to privacy and should not have been put before a jury. (thejournal.ie)
- courtHarrington's counsel argued the CCTV footage captured the inside of her home. (thejournal.ie)
- courtCounsel for the State submitted that the CCTV issue had been addressed at the start of the trial and that the defence had asked for a specific piece of footage to be played without interruption. (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe Court of Appeal said it would reserve its judgment. (thejournal.ie)
- courtHarrington appeared before the Court of Appeal on a Monday to challenge her conviction on the basis that CCTV footage breached her privacy rights. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtHarrington's counsel argued that the CCTV footage should not have been put before a jury. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe State said the CCTV issue had been addressed at trial, with the footage truncated and presented by a Garda. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe Court of Appeal reserved its judgement. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtA jury returned a unanimous guilty verdict in May 2022 at the Central Criminal Court sitting in Cork. (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe court held the CCTV footage was harvested to advance the investigation and was admissible evidence. (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe court was not persuaded that Harrington's right to privacy was infringed. (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe court rejected the argument that Harrington was too ill to be interviewed, noting she had a solicitor present and was seen by a doctor. (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe court rejected the challenge to the trial judge's charge on circumstantial evidence. (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal against conviction. (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe Court of Appeal dismissed Harrington's appeal on 6 June 2024. (irishtimes.com)
- courtMs Justice Isobel Kennedy returned the judgment of the Court of Appeal. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe court stated an individual does not have an expectation of privacy while moving through public spaces. (irishtimes.com)
- courtA jury of seven men and four women returned a unanimous guilty verdict in May 2022 before Mr Justice Michael MacGrath. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe court said even if the objection had been made at trial, the appellant would not have succeeded in excluding the evidence. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe Court of Appeal dismissed the argument that Harrington's privacy was breached by CCTV footage used by gardaí. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtHarrington's trial was held in 2022. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe prosecution said the evidence showed Harrington was alone in the apartment with the child from 3.10am to 5.11am. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtHarrington gave sworn evidence in her own defence, insisting she had not harmed Santina. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceHarrington was sentenced to life in prison. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceMr Justice Michael McGrath sentenced Harrington to mandatory life imprisonment. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceHarrington was sentenced to mandatory life imprisonment. (corkbeo.ie)
- sentenceHarrington was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder. (thejournal.ie)
- sentenceHarrington remains serving her life sentence. (thejournal.ie)
- sentenceHarrington is serving a life sentence in Limerick prison. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherHarrington is likely to be moved to the new E53M women's prison this summer. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherMichael Cauley said Harrington should receive the death penalty. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherHarrington is likely to be moved to the new E53M women's prison later this year. (corkbeo.ie)
- otherIt is reported that Harrington will still not be allowed to mix with the general prison population. (corkbeo.ie)
- otherSantina's father said there can be no rehabilitation for someone who kills a child. (corkbeo.ie)
- otherSantina's father said he thinks Harrington deserves the death penalty. (corkbeo.ie)
- otherMichael Cawley said there could be war on the street if Harrington is released and he meets her (irishmirror.ie)
- otherSantina's father said Harrington's appeal was a waste of time and described her as deluded. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherHarrington was held in a 23-hour lockup regime in Limerick Prison. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherIn 2022 Harrington wrote a letter from prison to Santina's mother, Bridget, which she was shocked to receive. (irishmirror.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 19 Jun2024Mother of murdered child Santina Cauley says she hopes killer 'rots in hell'
Reports that Harrington lost her appeal against her murder conviction earlier in June 2024, and includes reaction from Santina's mother and a 2022 letter Harrington sent to her from prison.
victim, Santina Cauley, 2, female, irish (judged from name)Santina Cauleyconvicted, Karen Harrington, female, named, irish (judged from name)Karen Harrington - 8 Jun2024Dad of murdered Santina Cauley says she can rest in peace as killer lost appeal
Reports the Court of Appeal's Thursday ruling dismissing Harrington's appeal, the CCTV privacy argument it rejected, and her father's reaction, including his objection to Harrington's prison work and his parole concerns.
victim, Santina Cauley, 3, female, irish (judged from name)Santina Cauleyconvicted, Karen Harrington, female, named, irish (judged from name)Karen Harrington - 6 Jun2024Karen Harrington fails to have conviction for murder of Santina Cawley (2) overturned
Court of Appeal judgment dismissing Harrington's privacy-based appeal, upholding the May 2022 guilty verdict and life sentence.
convicted, Karen Harrington, 40, female, named, irish (judged from name)Karen Harringtonvictim, Santina Cawley, 2, female, irish (judged from name)Santina Cawley - 6 Jun2024Woman who killed Cork toddler Santina Cawley to remain jailed as appeal fails
Court of Appeal judgment dismissing Harrington's appeal against conviction. The court rejected her grounds on CCTV privacy, fitness for interview and the jury charge on circumstantial evidence.
convicted, 40, female, irish (judged from name)victim, Santina Cawley, 2, female, irish (judged from name)Santina Cawley - 14 Mar2024Dad of murdered child Santina Cauley slams killer's 'deluded' appeal
Reports the Court of Appeal hearing of Harrington's appeal against her murder conviction, the CCTV privacy argument, the State's response, the reserved judgement and the father's comments.
victim, Santina Cauley, 2, female, irish (judged from name)Santina Cauleyconvicted, Karen Harrington, named, irish (judged from name)Karen Harrington - 11 Mar2024Woman convicted of killing Santina Cawley (2) appeals conviction
Reports the Court of Appeal hearing of Harrington's appeal on the CCTV privacy ground. The State's response is recorded and judgment was reserved. Adds the appeal arguments, the 53 injuries and the cause of death.
victim, Santina Cawley, 2, irish (judged from name)Santina Cawleyconvicted, Karen Harrington, 40, female, named, irish (judged from name)Karen Harrington - 10 Jul2023Dad of murdered toddler says 'there could be war on street' if he meets killer
Father's emotional reaction ahead of the pending appeal of Karen Harrington's murder conviction, published on the fourth anniversary of Santina's death.
victim, Santina Cawley, 2, female, irish (judged from name)Santina Cawleyconvicted, Karen Harrington, female, named, irish (judged from name)Karen Harrington - 3 May2023Dad of murdered Santina Cawley slams killer's 'hotel-like' new prison conditions
Father's reaction to Harrington's possible move to the new E53M women's prison, the reported isolation arrangements, and his call for the death penalty; the article also gives the sentence as life imprisonment, imposed by Justice Michael McGrath.
convicted, Karen Harrington, female, named, irish (judged from name)Karen Harringtonvictim, Santina Cawley, 2, female, irish (judged from name)Santina Cawley - 3 May2023Dad of murdered Santina Cauley blasts 'hotel-like' prison conditions for killer
Father's comments on Harrington's expected prison conditions and planned move to the E53M women's prison; he says she deserves the death penalty; states her sentence and the judge's remarks.
victim, Santina Cauley, 2, female, irish (judged from name)Santina Cauleyconvicted, Karen Harrington, female, named, irish (judged from name)Karen Harrington