A mother who killed her newborn baby more than 25 years ago before abandoning his body in a bin bag near a children’s theme park has avoided jail after a court heard she was suffering from a severe depressive illness at the time.
Joanne Sharkey, now 56, was handed a two-year suspended sentence at Liverpool Crown Court after pleading guilty to the manslaughter of her son, Baby Callum, and concealing his birth.
The baby boy’s body was discovered on 14 March 1998 by a dog walker in woodland near Gulliver’s World in Warrington. Wrapped in a black bin bag, the full-term newborn was found with wads of tissue in his mouth.
For decades, the case remained unsolved, despite a massive police investigation that included nearly 500 DNA tests and extensive enquiries. Baby Callum was named after the Callands area where he was found and laid to rest at Warrington Cemetery in July 1998. His grave remains marked by a headstone funded by donations from the local community.
The breakthrough came in 2022 when a relative of Sharkey was added to the national DNA database, leading to her arrest. Sharkey, who had hidden the pregnancy from her family and gave birth in secret at her home in Croxteth, Liverpool, admitted responsibility during a covertly recorded conversation after her arrest. She was heard saying, “It’s all on me,” and expressing relief that the truth was finally out.
During sentencing, High Court judge Mrs Justice Eady said: “This very sad case calls for compassion,” noting that Sharkey had been “haunted” by her actions for over two decades and had suffered significant mental health issues, including memory loss surrounding the birth.
Sharkey was suffering from a “moderate to severe depressive illness” at the time of the offence, which experts concluded had substantially impaired her judgment and control. The Crown Prosecution Service accepted a plea of manslaughter based on diminished responsibility.
The court also heard that Sharkey’s then-partner, the father of her 20-month-old son, had no knowledge of the pregnancy or the child’s birth and death. No further action was taken against him.
Detective Chief Inspector Adam Till, speaking after the sentencing, said: “Baby Callum’s life was unfairly cut short. He would have been an adult today. While this outcome cannot undo the tragedy, we hope it brings some comfort to the many people affected.”
Sharkey will remain under supervision as part of her suspended sentence and has been ordered to engage with ongoing mental health support.
For those affected by similar issues, support is available through organisations such as Mind, Samaritans, and local mental health services.
