Woman admits manslaughter of newborn baby 27 years ago

Boy’s mum ‘stuffed tissue in his throat then dumped him’

- Chris Riches

A MUM has pleaded guilty to killing her baby son, whose remains were found near a theme park 27 years ago.

Joanne Sharkey, 55, yesterday admitted manslaughter by diminished responsibility, which was accepted by prosecutors. She had been due to stand trial for the murder of the tot, who was named Callum by police.

His body was found with wads of tissue in his mouth and throat near Gulliver’s World in Warrington, Cheshire, on March 14, 1998.

The remains, wrapped in two knot-ted black bin bags, were discovered in woodland by a dog walker — who poked a hole in the sacks with a stick.

Callum’s parents were finally traced via DNA after more than two decades of police inquiries. They were arrested on July 28, 2023.

Father

Sharkey was charged with murder on April 15 last year, as well as endeavouring to conceal the birth of a child, which she admitted.

The father was released without charge, with Cheshire Police saying he did not know about the pregnancy, the birth of his son or subsequent death.

Sharkey, from West Derby in Liverpool, will be sentenced on March 21 after pre-sentence reports have been prepared.