Trial told of Santina’s DNA on bloodstained leggings
Court hears that toddler sustained 53 injuries before her death
A BLOODSTAIN matching the DNA profile of a twoyear-old girl who sustained 53 injuries and died in hospital was found on a pair of adult floral leggings in the apartment in which she was discovered, a murder trial in Cork has heard.
Karen Harrington, of Lakelands Crescent in Mahon, Cork, is on trial at the Central Criminal Court, sitting in the city, charged with the murder of Santina Cawley at 26 Elderwood Park, Boreenmanna Road, Cork, on July 5, 2019.
The 37-year-old, who denies the murder charge, was in a relationship with Michael Cawley, the father of the deceased, at the time of the alleged offence.
Forensic scientist Dr Sibeal Waldron, of Forensic Science Ireland, told the court that DNA bloodstaining on the upper left knee of a pair of floral leggings recovered from a bedroom at 26 Elderwood Park in Cork matched the profile of Santina.
The remaining DNA profiles on other bloodstains on the garment matched the DNA profile of the accused, Karen Harrington, the court heard. Dr Waldron told the jury that drip stains and pools of blood in the kitchen matched the DNA profile of Karen Harrington and indicated that she was bleeding in that area.
Dr Waldron said that clumps of hair found in the property matched the profile of Santina.
A child’s pink T-shirt which was examined by forensic scientists had bloodstains, the trial heard.
One stain on the inside of the right sleeve was found to have a mixed DNA profile which the scientist said was more likely to contain the DNA profile of Santina Cawley and Karen Harrington than two other contributors. The other five stains matched the DNA profile of Santina, the trial heard.
Dr Waldron said the tear marks on the T-shirt were caused by force and pulling as opposed to wear and tear. Dr Jennifer Ryan, of Forensic Science Ireland, said that analysis of the hair clumps recovered from the property indicated that they were ‘forcibly removed’ from the head.
The trial earlier heard that Santina sustained 49 external and four internal injuries.
Crime scene manager Detective Garda Stephen Dennehy, of the Scenes of Crime Unit, told the jury of seven men and four women the extent of the injuries sustained by the toddler. The 12th juror was excused earlier this week.
Det Garda Dennehy said: ‘She had 49 external injuries and four internal. A gold stud earring was present in her right ear similar in size to an earring in the middle of the sitting room floor. There was no earring in the left ear.’
Det Garda Dennehy gave evidence that clumps of hair were found inside the door of 26 Elderwood Park as well as on a threeseater sofa in the property.
A stained duvet with hair attached to it was also recovered as well as a pair of a child’s leopard-print leggings with a nappy inside; the leggings had one sock in them, the court heard.
Det Garda Dennehy said there was evidence of a disturbance in the kitchen. Bloodstained leggings with a floral design belonging to an adult were found in a downstairs bedroom, it was heard. An examination of the scene where the child was found was carried out on July 5, 2019.
Det Garda Dennehy noted contact bloodstaining inside the door of the apartment and a broken Betty Boop statue on the top of the stairway. There was heavy bloodstaining and drag marks were visible in front of the cooker in the kitchen, and hair was visible in the blood, the trial heard. The case continues in front of Judge Michael McGrath and the jury.
‘Forcibly removed’