BERNADETTE QUIRK FROM ST HELENS AND WIGAN ADMITS TO HIDING FOUR BABIES' BODIES
In a disturbing case that has shocked the communities of St Helens and Wigan, Bernadette Quirk, a 55-year-old woman, has admitted to concealing the remains of four infants over a span of more than a decade.The court heard that Quirk, formerly residing on Harlow Close in St Helens, kept the bodies of three stillborn children in a small plastic bin stored within her wardrobe for up to 20 years.
Additionally, she secretly buried another infant in a cemetery, actions that have raised serious questions about her mental state and the circumstances surrounding her pregnancies.
According to the proceedings at Liverpool Crown Court, Quirk gave birth to these children between the years 1985 and 1995.
During the trial, it was revealed that she wrapped three of the infants in rags before placing them in the bin, which was kept in her home.
The fourth child was buried in a cemetery, though details about the burial site were not specified.
Quirk has admitted to concealing these births, and her sentencing is scheduled for October.
The court was informed that she now resides in Wigan, Greater Manchester, and that she struggles to recall precise details about when each birth occurred.
Her defense attorney, Ian Morris, emphasized that Quirk believed, supported by medical evidence, that all four children were stillborn at the time of their births.
Morris described her life during that period as chaotic and out of control, noting that she has buried many memories from that time in her mind.
He explained that Quirk is unable to remember many specifics about the events, including the fourth child's birth, but she had little choice but to plead guilty due to overwhelming evidence linking her to the children as their mother.
Further details revealed that when Quirk was arrested last year, she was undergoing treatment for depression at Whiston Hospital on Merseyside.
At that time, she was also facing imminent eviction from her home.
The court was told that she had moved several times since the children’s births, yet she continued to carry and keep the remains of the infants, a fact that has puzzled investigators.
Notably, two of the babies found in the bin were twins, and all four children were girls.
Judge Henry Globe, presiding over the case, decided to adjourn the hearing to allow for further reports, citing the need to understand the background of the case more fully.
The judge emphasized the seriousness of the charges, stating, “You have pleaded guilty to four very serious offences, and I must keep all options open, including the possibility of a custodial sentence for such matters.” The relatives of Quirk have expressed their intention to give the four babies a proper burial, seeking closure and respect for the lives that were lost.
