LONDON – Two women and a man have been questioned by police after the discovery of the bodies of three newborn babies, following a tip-off to police after a drunken row at a lingerie party, it was claimed yesterday.
Officers found the bodies in the early hours of Sunday at a house in Merseyside, London.
It is believed the babies, found at a property in Harlow Close, St Helens, could have been born as long ago as the mid-1980s.
The three people arrested have been released pending further inquiries.
Neighbours said they thought the tip-off to police was linked to a row between women after an Ann Summers-style party nearby on Saturday night.
Police were called as the fracas continued on the street.
The next morning, detectives arrived at the house followed by undertakers with three small coffins.
Lyn Murphy (44), who has been living in the street for 14 years, said: “There was a fight on the street after a . . . party and the police came to break it up.”
She described how officers arrived at Harlow Close at about 6am the next day and she saw the small coffins being brought into the house by undertakers and taken away.
Ms Murphy said: “I believe the bodies were in the attic, because I heard the police making noises upstairs as they were searching the house. The attics in these houses are very close together.”
She added: “There has been plenty of police activity around the house since it was raided on Sunday.
“There have been police forensics going in and out of the house for the past few days. Since Sunday, there must have been three or four vans come by.”
Merseyside Police said forensic tests were being carried out to determine the age and sex of the children.
Officers remained outside the small house on the red-brick housing estate yesterday.
The house, with a white front door, is in a terrace of five two-storey homes, with small front and back gardens.
Det Supt Steve Naylor said: “Following a call to us, we attended at an address in St Helens where human remains were discovered.
“The remains are believed to be that of newborn babies and, at this stage of the inquiry, it is believed they are the remains of three babies. The investigation has only recently commenced and a number of lines of inquiry are being explored.
“We cannot speculate as to the cause or circumstances of the deaths and any inappropriate supposition is likely to have a severe impact on the investigation and the family concerned.
“This looks like being a complex investigation, and a lot of hard work needs to be done before we can ascertain what the full circumstances are surrounding this situation.”
– (PA)