Wednesday 28 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 5641Murder · Co. Cork · 5 Jul 2019

Mother of Santina Cauley reacts after killer Karen Harrington loses conviction appeal

Santina Cauley, a two-year-old girl, was murdered at an apartment in Cork city in July 2019, and a post-mortem recorded 49 external injuries and several internal haemorrhages. Karen Harrington, a woman, was convicted of the murder and is serving a life sentence in Limerick prison. In 2022 Harrington wrote a letter from prison to Santina's mother, Bridget O'Donoghoe, which Bridget reported to gardaí and the Irish Prison Service. In early June 2024 Harrington lost her appeal against her conviction, and Santina's mother welcomed the result.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Convicted19 Jun
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Santina Cauley, a two-year-old girl, was murdered.
  • Karen Harrington, a woman, was convicted of Santina's murder.
Where
The murder took place at an apartment in Cork city.
When
Santina was murdered in July 2019.
Cause
The post-mortem recorded 49 external injuries and several internal haemorrhages.
In court
  • The prosecution said the evidence showed Harrington was alone in the apartment with the child from 3.10am to 5.11am.
  • Harrington gave sworn evidence in her own defence, saying she had not harmed Santina.
  • Harrington lost her appeal against her conviction earlier in June 2024.
Sentence
Harrington is serving a life sentence in Limerick prison.
Other details
  • In 2022 Harrington wrote a letter from prison to Santina's mother, Bridget O'Donoghoe.
  • Bridget said she was shocked to receive the letter.
  • Santina's mother, Bridget O'Donoghoe, said she was glad Harrington had lost the appeal.
Investigation
Bridget told gardaí and the Irish Prison Service about the letter, and gardaí were looking into it.
9 statements extracted from the articles
  • 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 murder took place at an apartment in Cork city. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenSantina was murdered in July 2019. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationBridget told gardaí and the Irish Prison Service about the letter, and gardaí were looking into it. (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 is serving a life sentence 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
  1. 19 Jun2024
    Convictedirishmirror.ie, first report
    Mother 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