Irishwoman charged with hiding body of stillborn baby

An Irish backpacker could face prison after failing to report the birth of her stillborn child, whose body she hid in the outback of Western Australia.

The 25-year-old claims she did not realise she was pregnant while travelling with friends in the remote region of Kimberley. She gave birth to a stillborn child at home in May, alone, in the town of Halls Creek, more than 2,800km north- east of Perth.

Police allege that she hid the baby for several days before notifying friends of the birth. It was only when they took her to hospital that staff alerted police.