Woman arrested over dead babies in attics

A former nurse was arrested last night after police discovered the bodies of three newborn babies in two attics.

Anne Mahoney, 64, was first questioned six weeks ago after a baby's corpse was found wrapped in bags in a loft.

When police searched the attic of her own home yesterday, they found the remains of two more infants. They had been 'bagged up' in a similar way, said an officer.

Detectives sealed off the two-bedroomed council house in a cul-de-sac on the Gurnos estate in Merthyr Tydfil, South Wales. Other properties are to be searched.

One officer said: 'This has come as quite a shock and we are not sure what we are dealing with at the moment.'

The first baby was found on March 20 by a family moving into their new home.

The father was putting empty packing cases into the attic when he found the remains in a plastic bag.

He thought the bones were a rabbit's before realising in horror it was a baby.

Pathologists said the body - that of a fullterm child - was hidden years ago but failed to establish a cause of death.

Forensic tests were being carried out on the latest corpses last night. One neighbour said: 'This place has a bad reputation but everyone is shocked by the discovery.

'It was bad enough when one baby was found. This is too horrific to think about.'

Residents said Mrs Mahoney worked as a nurse at the Prince Charles Hospital in Merthyr Tydfil, then became a carer for the elderly until her retirement.