Lindsay Clancy killed her children. Why are so many mothers on her side? - The Times
thetimes.com
A mother convicted of killing her children has drawn fierce online sympathy — and the debate over why reveals how postpartum psychosis is understood, excused, or weaponized.
Moral DisengagementAttribution TheoryIn-Group BiasDiminished Responsibility
Theory Briefing
- Lindsay Clancy killed her three children yet commands a vocal online following of mothers who see her as a victim of a broken postpartum care system.
- Supporters argue severe postpartum psychosis strips away agency entirely, making punishment a miscarriage of justice rather than accountability.
- Critics warn that rallying around Clancy risks creating a framework where maternal violence is systematically excused rather than examined.
- Conspiracy theories around the case have multiplied, muddying the line between genuine advocacy for mental health reform and motivated defence of a convicted killer.