Mother pleads guilty to manslaughter after baby’s death

Joanne Sharkey, a mother from Liverpool, has confessed to killing her baby boy after hiding her pregnancy for 25 years. The baby was found dead in a woodland in 1998, but Sharkey was only identified in 2023 when police matched her DNA to that of her older son. At a recent court hearing, Sharkey expressed relief at being arrested, as she had lived with the secret for decades. The prosecution originally charged her with murder, but this was later changed to manslaughter due to her struggles with severe post-natal depression. Sharkey, now 55 years old, concealed her pregnancy from her husband, Neil Sharkey, who only learned he had a second child when police arrived at their home in 2023. Their relationship was strained, and Sharkey described them as "ships in the night" during the winter of her pregnancy. In court, it was revealed that after the birth, Sharkey tried to quiet the baby's cries and ended up causing his death. His body was hidden in bin bags and left near a theme park. Many people had searched for the baby's mother at the time, but Sharkey remained undiscovered until now. Experts testified that Sharkey's mental health issues prevented her from making rational decisions. Her symptoms began after the birth of her first son in 1996 and worsened before she gave birth to her second child. Family members shared supportive statements about Sharkey, with her son Matthew describing her as a caring mother. Sharkey's lawyer argued that she acted out of fear and confusion, asking the court to consider a lighter sentence. The judge has postponed the sentencing to a later date.