The mother of murdered child Santina Cauley says she and her four children are about to become homeless.
Bridget O’Donoghue, whose daughter Santina, two, was brutally murdered by Karen Harrington in Cork in 2019 says she now facing the prospect of living on the streets in just two weeks time.
Speaking exclusively to us, Bridget, who has already gone through the worst pain any parent could ever face, now says she’s struggling to find a home for her and her four other children.
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“I’m trying to get a house. At the moment I’m living with my mother but my mother is moving out now in two weeks, and is getting a one bedroom apartment.
“Right now I’m here with my four kids in this tiny two bedroom apartment and we’re facing ending up out on the streets,” she said.
Bridget says she has been on the housing list for eight years, and claims she has sought the help of Cork County Council in urgently finding her and her kids a new home.
“I keep on going on CPL but I can’t get nowhere. Me and my kids are going to be homeless after eight years,
“I had a home before in Blackpool and I had everything going but I couldn’t go back into it.
“There were too many bad memories.
“All I want now is a new home and to get on now and raise my family. But they’re giving me nothing.”
Bridget says her current housing situation also isn’t great - but there is nothing they can do when her mother moves out of the Cork-based apartment they are staying in.
“It’s awful here. The bathroom is leaking, it’s mental. My kids, they’re not used to being holed up in the one bedroom with no shower, no dryer - we’ve nothing.”
Bridget says she is trying every day to find new accommodation for her family - as she says she continues to fight through the pain she has suffered to give them a better life.
“I have to get the rest of my kids into a new home. I have to be there for them and to be strong for them.
“I have to get them through school and college and get a job.
“If it wasn’t for them I wouldn’t be here. They need a home now, they need their own bedrooms.
“If not, it’s possible we’re going to end up on the streets.”
Adding to Bridget’s grief, she is still reeling from a chilling letter sent to her in the post from a person claiming to be her child’s killer.
The hand-written letter, which purports to be from jailed murderer Karen Harrington, asked Bridget to come and visit her in prison - and refused to accept blame for Santina’s tragic death.
The letter repeats convicted murderer Harrington’s long-standing claims that she is innocent and goes on to invite Bridget to visit her in Limerick prison, where she is serving a life sentence.
It also bizarrely states “I know how you feel,” and signs off with “puddles of cuddles” for the slain child’s mother.
Gardai confirmed to this paper that the matter has been reported to them.
In the letter, seen by The Star, the writer calling themselves ‘Karen’ claims she went ‘blank’ over what exactly happened on the night of July 5, 2019, but goes on to insist that she is innocent.
“I am asking you from my heart, from a mother to a mother, can you relate to this happening.”
The letter goes on to refer to the child’s father Michael Cawley returning to her apartment in the early hours of the morning and waking her up - something which her criminal trial heard occurred.
“I wet myself. I got sick. No one ever had this effect on me in my life.
Without going into too much detail, you ever get such a fright you blank to what exactly happened,” the writer of this letter claims.
As the trial heard, Michael, who was out in Cork city that night returned to find Santina in a critical state - and woke Karen Harrington to ask her what exactly happened.
The letter goes on to claim that gardai investigating Santina’s murder did not get their facts right.
“Garda putting two and two and getting 10,” the writer claims.
They then go on to claim they are suffering over the loss of Santina in the same way that her own mother is.
“The constant heartache is unbearable and what Santina suffered is unimaginable girl.
“I pray to Santina morn, noon and night. I often light a candle, there are times I pray for you, your mom and children.
“I have many strongly praying for us.
“You and I need to chat in detail, be prepared,” the letter adds.
“I know how you feel, I feel the same. I will not ever accept blame for something I did not do.
“I have undergone many assessments. I am of sound mind. If you wish to visit me, please do.
“Puddles of cuddles. Karen.”
Speaking about her shock at the contents of the letter on Monday, Bridget said: “It’s sickening. The things that are said in that letter are just hurting me. It’s disgusting."
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