A community remains in shock as the death of a two-year-old girl was upgraded to a murder probe.
Investigations into the killing of Santina Cauley continued after a postmortem was carried out by Deputy State Pathologist Dr Margot Bolster.
Local councillor Deirdre Forde said the tragedy had touched “the hearts of everybody” as they tried to come to terms with the tot’s murder.
Santina was taken to hospital from an apartment in the Elderwood complex on Boreenmanna Road, on the south side of Cork city, at around 5am yesterday.
Neighbours had reported a disturbance and one theory being pursued is she may have sustained her injuries during the course of a domestic dispute.
One neighbour told the Irish Sunday Mirror there was a commotion hours earlier.
She said: “I heard shouting and banging at around 3am and it woke my little girl.”
Gardai attending the scene found Santina suffered serious head injuries.
They performed CPR and paramedics also treated the toddler.
She was taken to Cork University Hospital but died hours later at approximately 9.20am.
Two crime scenes remain cordoned off as forensic examinations are expected to be completed on Sunday.
Door-to-door inquiries also continued as gardai investigated the circumstances that led to the child’s murder.
Friends and family members remained in shock as they attempted to come to terms with the death.
Cllr Deirdre Forde added: “The loss of a child is traumatic and the whole community feels for the loss of a beautiful child.
“For any child of any age, the loss is deeply felt. It’s unnatural to lose a child.
“My thoughts and prayers are with all involved. I would appeal to people to assist the gardai in bringing the matter to a conclusion as soon as possible.”
Friends and family paid tribute to Santina on social media yesterday.
One wrote: “RIP beautiful baby angel”, while another posted, “God rest her beautiful soul”.
No arrests have yet been made.
