She is already one of the most notorious killers in the Irish prison system.
But as she adjusts to life behind bars, the Irish Mirror can reveal that deluded baby killer Karen Harrington is finding it hard to accept her fate.
The convicted murderer is insisting to fellow inmates and staff that she did not murder tragic Santina Cawley, it has emerged.
Sources have told the Irish Mirror that Harrington – serving life for the shocking murder of the two-year-old – has told prison staff she did not commit the horrendous crime.
READ MORE: Santina Cawley's killer could spend years in jail lockdown over risk of attacks by fellow inmates
“She is still denying it,” a source said of Harrington, who is now more than two weeks into her sentence in the women’s section of Limerick Prison.
The source added: “She insists she had nothing to do with the murder.”
Insiders say the 38-year-old, who is likely to spend 20 years in prison for the murder of Santina in July 2019 – is telling anyone who will listen that she is innocent.
That’s despite a jury in her trial delivering a unanimous guilty verdict after they were presented with a mountain of evidence against her.
One source said killers such as Harrington often deny their guilt when they begin their life sentence. It is only after years behind bars that they admit what they have done.
They added: “There is an old joke that there are no guilty people in prison. Everyone says they are innocent.
“Lifers often come in to serve their sentence and tell the world they are innocent. Some hold their hands up and admit it but that is rare.
“But then after a few years they realise there is no point keeping up the pretence and accept their fate.”
After a 14-day trial, Harrington was found guilty of Santina’s murder on May 16 by a jury of the Central Criminal Court.
The trial heard Santina was found critically injured by her father in the early hours of July 5, 2019, at her killer’s apartment in Boreenmanna Road in Cork.
She died a few hours later at Cork University Hospital.
Santina, whose father Michael Cawley was in a relationship with Harrington at the time, had suffered 53 different injuries.
Get breaking news to your inbox by signing up to our newsletter.
