Locked-up child killer Karen Harrington may have to spend years in jail lockdown – because of the risk she will be attacked by other inmates, it has emerged.
The 38-year-old – who earlier this week began a life sentence for the brutal murder of little Santina Cawley – is currently on 21-hour lockdown in Limerick Prison, and sources say that period of solitary may to be extended for months or years.
It’s understood prison staff are worried she could be targeted by other inmates – as child killers are regarded as the lowest of the low.
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“It will be very difficult for her to associate with other prisoners, the risk is too high,” a source said.
Her current regime sees her out of her cell for just three hours a day – and that is only for exercise and visits.
Her regime is now being reviewed, but sources say it was likely she would be serving her sentence alone for a significant period of time.
“It could be years,” a source said.
“Women inmates do not like child killers, so she could be in trouble.”
Harrington was jailed for life last Monday after a jury found her guilty of the murder of Santina, who was just two, at her apartment in Cork’s Elderwood Park in July 2019.
Harrington, who was in a relationship with Santina’s dad Michael, had denied the murder – but a jury found she beat the defenceless child to death.
The court heard little Santina suffered 53 different injuries.
Speaking after the verdict, her father Michael told how trolls were targeting him over his daughter’s murder.
Michael told us he was hurt by unfounded claims that he had “neglected” his child – and insisted that he has “no guilt” over leaving her with Harrington because he trusted her.
“This is not about neglect. Santina was never neglected. I left her with a person I thought I could trust,” Michael said.
“I don’t have any guilt. I left my daughter with someone I 100 per cent trusted. I never thought she could do this.
“I can’t start saying I hold guilt when I don’t. If I could change things of course I would change everything – not meeting Karen – anything like that,” he said.
Harrington is expected to serve at least 20 years behind bars for the brutal murder.
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