Karen Harrington jailed for life for the murder of Santina Cawley

freshpopcorn · 16-05-2022 9:36pm #1

This is one of the worst cases I've seen in the courts as of late.

The injuries the little girl recieved were horrific. She was essentially tortured to death.

https://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/santina-cawley-parents-describe-mental-torture-as-karen-harrington-jailed-for-life-1305875.html

enfant terrible · 16-05-2022 9:43pm

Evil woman R.I.P little Santina

Wheety · 16-05-2022 9:45pm

I can never understand what drives someone to hurt a child.

Poor little Santina. RIP

HildaOgdenx · 16-05-2022 10:28pm

RIP, poor little Santina.

TooTired123 · 17-05-2022 6:45am

A short horrific life filled with neglect and fear and pain. In full view of everybody. But don’t forget. Modern Ireland is great place for kids, much better then the bad old days….

pjohnson · 17-05-2022 6:59am

Thank fùck.

Vile creature deserves whatever she gets in prison.

Ham_Sandwich · 17-05-2022 8:10am

Can't believe people are querying the circumstances leading to the child's death on social media, the family have gone through enough.

foxsake · 17-05-2022 8:33am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119073852#Comment_119073852

while I see your point - people want the broader story and details.

Personally I'm wondering why the father left the apartment at 3am for 2hours on foot - after a night on the beer to either locate a phone or his cousin. In my shoes I'd say I would sort it out in the morning as I was tired...2hours walking about cork (assuming he is half cut)....between 3 and 5am . fcuk that.

I'm not blaming him and it doesn't take away from the horror of the murder of the little girl at all and the worst kind of evil committed by the killer.

You can have many different feelings and interests in a single story.

The Mighty Quinn · 17-05-2022 8:39am

I've a daughter that is 2 years and 3 months old. It was impossible to read any of the reports without imagining my little girl in that situation. It was the first time I've ever cried reading the news. My heart breaks for what Santina went through, and what her parents will forever be going through. That will never go away or make sense.

touts · 17-05-2022 8:40am

If there is any justice in this world the evil bitch will be found in her cell in a similar state to the poor little child she tortured and murdered.

SuperBowserWorld · 17-05-2022 8:55am

There have been a few very disturbing cases recently in Ireland. I think community has broken down. People have become very selfish, blinded, overworked or afraid. And keep assuming the government and corporations are going to help and it's all going to be ok.

seamus · 17-05-2022 8:56am

Why the father left the apartment, the circumstances around it are all completely **** irrelevant lads.

If a child is left in your care, you take care of it as if it's your own, no matter who left it, when they left it, where they left it, or how you feel about the parents.

If Adolf Hitler himself left his toddler child in your care, you mind that fvcking child like it's your own flesh and blood. Humanity 101.

All the blame here lies with the woman who murdered a toddler, and nobody else.

Muff_Daddy · 17-05-2022 9:10am

Nah.

She very much deserves punishment for what she did.

TooTired123 · 17-05-2022 9:25am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119073852#Comment_119073852

Yep. Nothing to see here. Child spends the day in her buggy while her father and his girlfriend booze in the park before being brutally murdered by a woman who clearly remembers nothing about it.

No, nothing to see here. Move right along. We wouldn’t want to be querying any of this at all….

fatbhoy · 17-05-2022 9:39am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119073970#Comment_119073970

Regarding the comment about the women's prison, I couldn't agree more. While I'm sure she'll get a really hard time from most of her fellow prisoners, the conditions of that women's prison, to me, are appalling: it's not a prison at all, it's a holiday home.

starkid · 17-05-2022 9:52am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119074054#Comment_119074054

thats a nonsense. parents also have a duty of care, no matter what. the woman is pure evil etc, but parents still have a duty of care ffs

foxsake · 17-05-2022 9:52am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119074054#Comment_119074054

nobody blamed the father and only blamed the killer.

this doesn't mean there are other aspects of the story that are of interest.

So why he left the apartment isn't irrelevant. I've kids , a mobile phone and a cousin and I wouldn't be walking about the streets (albeit I live in Dublin) at 3am - half cut maybe fully pissed - for 2 hours trying to locate either phone or cousin after a night on the lash.

imagine the audacity of seeing a story in the public eye through your own eyes and experiences .

Xander10 · 17-05-2022 9:56am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119074054#Comment_119074054

As a parent, I take a duty of care to protect my children. And if a need arises to leave them in the care of someone else, I do not do it lightly, I need to feel 100% sure they are safe and protected with that person.

I would never leave a child in the sole care of someone off their head on drink & drugs. And I am sure the father knew a bit more than you and me about the stability of that women.

I suspect a lot more information will come to light in the coming days about both parties. Probably another massive fail by Tusla also.

17-05-2022 9:57am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119074054#Comment_119074054

What if it was Hitler's parents leaving little Adi with you?

TooTired123 · 17-05-2022 10:54am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119074341#Comment_119074341

The handiest thing is to blame TUSLA. TUSLA literally have their hands tied behind their backs in these situations.

It’s fine to get involved with families in the general Irish population and kids can be and are removed from these severely dysfunctional situations all the time.

But when it comes to minorities the cries of bigotry racism and discrimination hover over their heads and force them very much into the background. It’s the same in the UK.

funkey_monkey · 17-05-2022 12:14pm

What does a life sentence constitute in terms of actual years imprisoned?

Wezz · 17-05-2022 12:28pm

Can't always be blaming Tusla, as a social worker I get fed up with these comments every time something like this happens. Tusla, social workers and others can only do so much. It might surprise some people to know that we can't just go in and take children off their parents, the threshold is quite high and there are cases I'm working on now even more troubling than this family that will go nowhere because it legally can't until something tragic happens. I guarantee if I could legally step in and remove every child I have a concern about people would be calling us heavy handed and cruel. So we can't win. These is only one person to blame here and that's Karen Harrington.

fits · 17-05-2022 12:41pm

The kid was being dragged around from place to place while the father and his gf went on a session. She was in the fathers care in the first place after acquiring a broken femur while under the care of her mother. It seems to me that this little girl was failed by the adults in her life and it’s tragic.

17-05-2022 12:41pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119075161#Comment_119075161

It's similar to the Gardai, completely understandable that the system would very quickly wear ya down even with the best of intentions. And again similar to the Gardai there's plenty who don't go to much effort to make it look like they're going to any effort.

freshpopcorn · 17-05-2022 1:16pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119075161#Comment_119075161

Tusla are made out to be these big monsters who come in and take people's kids.

In reality for kids to be taken the circuitstances have to be very grim.

The way some children are raised would shock lots of people.

When Tusla do get involved they've to deal with the bleeding heart brigade who know nothing about the situation.

Tusla also have to deal with false reports of abuse/neglect from people feuding with one another.

I do understand how some young people who end up very messed up due to the care they receive of their parents.

sam t smith · 17-05-2022 1:17pm

How long before this lady is back on the streets? 5 years?

rightmove · 17-05-2022 1:47pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119074070#Comment_119074070

you strike again from the misandrist pulpit. If the father did this what title would you put on this thread???????

its your hypocracy I find so obvious

Fattybojangles · 17-05-2022 1:55pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119075587#Comment_119075587

20 years I'd say.

TheValeyard · 17-05-2022 1:58pm

Absolutely horrific story.

Those saying you cannot be blaming Tulsa, deal with them occasionally with work and they are absolutely shocking, totally inept and somewhat incompetent. Hopefully things have changed. But full blame lays with that evil b1tch. What the fcuk is wrong with some people.

Stories like this just want to make you go home and hug your own hugs and not let go.

RIP Santina.

Furze99 · 17-05-2022 1:59pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119074054#Comment_119074054

Notwithstanding above, like many people I'd have wondered at the fathers apparent casual attitude to the care of his young daughter. Going by what is reported he was on the piss, left her to go off for a couple of hours in middle of the night. I'm sure he's heartbroken but.....

freshpopcorn · 17-05-2022 2:02pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119075960#Comment_119075960

Nobody is denying that Tusla make mistakes/have bad members of staff like Gardai, nurses teachers etc

However isn't there only so much they can do.

Jequ0n · 17-05-2022 2:04pm

What a pointless article. Endless waffle about the victim impact statements but barely anything on the actual case.

rob316 · 17-05-2022 3:34pm

Poor baby, the adults in her life absolutely failed her. I saw the mother around the place alot when this story broke first, quite disturbing how much she loved the attention she was getting. If she had looked after Santina like a mother should, she wouldn't have fallen into the hands of this evil person.

Xander10 · 17-05-2022 3:55pm

Did I read correctly, that this one is or was pregnant post the incident?

NIMAN · 17-05-2022 3:55pm

Was the child a shared custody case between the 2 parents?

The idea of a 2yr old child being in the care of a couple of pissed up and drugged up adults over a weekend, when they were obviously on the lash, doesn't sit right.

Why would the mother let her 2yr old go into this type of situation?

freshpopcorn · 17-05-2022 4:03pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119076655#Comment_119076655

The girl broke her femur a few months earlier with her mother.

Tusla placed her with her father because she had four siblings.

That's my basic understanding of it.

NIMAN · 17-05-2022 4:07pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119076700#Comment_119076700

Ah right, I see it was a complicated case then.

Appears that ALL of the adults in her life let her down, not just the ones who were supposed to be looking after her when she died.

Jequ0n · 17-05-2022 4:11pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119076655#Comment_119076655

Considering the child had previously broken her femur whilst being with her mother it’s fair to assume that she is no better than the rest of them.

NIMAN · 17-05-2022 4:17pm

I really only knew of the case from what I read in media reports.

Reading those you'd think the mum and dad were super parents. I have no doubt they are distraught about their daughters death, but it would appear they weren't in the running for any parenting awards.

Any decent parent wouldn't be high and drunk whilst in charge of their 2yr old. You don't have to be a genius to know that. But for some modern parents it would appear they simply don't want kids to stop them having a very active social life, and indeed some seem to be a hindrance to them.

county · 17-05-2022 4:26pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119074070#Comment_119074070

There's always one isn't there.

Somehow I think if the murderer had been male you would be singing a different tune all together.

walshb · 17-05-2022 4:28pm

Truly despicably harrowing to think how any human could do such a thing to a beautiful defenceless child.

walshb · 17-05-2022 4:30pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119074070#Comment_119074070

Seriously. Get the fook away with this scutter!!!

walshb · 17-05-2022 4:31pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119075098#Comment_119075098

Potentially till your last breath!

17-05-2022 4:38pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119076770#Comment_119076770

Pubs used to be full of kids on a Saturday and Sunday back in the 70s and 80s while the parents got pissed and were then driven home by their parents.

walshb · 17-05-2022 4:44pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119075161#Comment_119075161

Well well said. I’m sick to the back teeth of the lazy and obtuse and ignorant blaming of some very very good and fine people working like demons in their efforts to protect children. Like any organisation , mistakes are made. But this ill-informed rush to demonise Tusla for every child that has suffered boils my piss

Dial Hard · 17-05-2022 4:48pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119075890#Comment_119075890

Pretty sure that poster is male, just fyi.

And I know they're a serial contrarian.

amacca · 17-05-2022 4:53pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119076720#Comment_119076720

I agree.....and just because someone may think Daddy and Mammy could be looked at with a critical eye doesn't mean they are taking away from the horrific act the Girlfriend carried out

Like, questioning what kind of father brings a two year old around with them on bender with them isn't completely irrelevant either. Or how the injury was sustained much earlier..........