Liverpool Mother Pleads Guilty to 1998 Manslaughter

Joanne Sharkey, aged 55, has pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of her newborn baby, known as 'Baby Callum', whose body was found in Warrington woodland near Gulliver's World theme park in 1998. Originally charged with murder, Sharkey admitted to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility and to concealing the birth, with the plea supported by psychiatric evaluations indicating a significant mental impairment at the time. The infant, found in bin bags by a dog walker, remained unidentified for decades until DNA evidence linked Sharkey to the case. The plea was accepted by the Liverpool Crown Court, and Sharkey is set to be sentenced on March 21, 2024. The case had captured local attention, leading to a community-funded funeral for the baby in 1998.