'Sometimes the people you trust betray that trust': How the shocking murder of two-year-old Santina Cawley unfolded

The violent death of Santina Cawley shocked a nation. Despite overwhelming evidence, Karen Harrington maintained her innocence. Liam Heylin looks back on the story of the child murderer who faced undeniable evidence but decided to take her chances in court.

Bridget O'Donoghue, mother of Santina Cawley, with her solicitor Donal Daly after the verdict was announced. Picture: Eddie O'Hare

Karen Harrington played roulette at the Gold Rush casino on MacCurtain St, Cork, on the afternoon of July 4, 2019, at a time when Santina Cawley was with her dad, Michael, who was hoovering his Ford Mondeo and doing some bits and pieces elsewhere in town.

It was a day like any other. And in a mundane moment during an early interview at Gurranabraher Garda station when she was suspected of murdering two-year-old Santina Cawley, a detective asked the 38-year-old, how do you play roulette? You just pick a number, she said.