Mum admits killing baby found in woodland
A mum has pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of her child, who was found in a woodland close to a theme park more than a quarter of a century ago.
Joanne Sharkey, 55, of Liverpool, denied murdering her baby boy, whose remains were discovered close to the Gulliver's World theme park in Warrington, Cheshire, on 14 March 1998.
As well as pleading guilty to manslaughter through diminished responsibility at Liverpool Crown Court, she also entered a guilty plea to endeavouring to conceal the birth of a child.
Sharkey is due to be sentenced on 21 March.
The infant who was believed to be born at full term was found discarded in a black bin bag by a local dog walker, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said.
At the time, the identity of the boy's parents was not known but they were identified after an investigation by the police that spanned over two decades.
Both the mother and father of the baby were arrested on 28 July 2023 on suspicion of murder, the CPS said.
The father was released without facing any charges.
Detectives named the infant Callum after the Callands district of Warrington where his remains were found, because his true identity could not be confirmed at the time.
A few months after the baby was found, local people arranged a burial and a funeral service was held.
He was buried in a small white coffin.
Read more stories from Cheshire on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC North West on X. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
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