'We will never forgive her' say family of baby girl killed by nursery nurse

Genevieve Meehan
Genevieve Meehan -Credit:GMP


The heartbroken parents of a baby who died while she was at nursery have paid tribute to their "wonderful" daughter, and said they will "never forgive the callousness” of the nursery nurse jailed for her manslaughter.

Nine-month-old Genevieve Meehan died at Tiny Toes nursery in Cheadle Hulme, Stockport. She died from asphyxiation brought on by a combination of pathophysiological stresses created by a “very unsafe sleeping environment”.

Kate Roughley, 37, was jailed today for 14 years at Manchester Crown Court for Genevieve's manslaughter. The court heard how nursery nurse Roughley strapped the baby girl face down on to a bean bag for more than 90 minutes.

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READ MORE: Nursery nurse jailed for 14 years for manslaughter of baby Genevieve Meehan

Roughley put Genevieve in “mortal danger” as she was “banished” to the bean bag for earlier not sleeping long enough for her liking, the court heard. She tightly swaddled Genevieve Meehan before she further restrained her with a harness and then inappropriately covered her with a blanket.

Roughley then failed to conduct adequate checks on the distressed infant before she discovered her unresponsive and blue on the afternoon of May 9 2022.

On Monday, a jury at Manchester Crown Court unanimously found Roughley guilty of manslaughter by ill-treatment after the prosecution said she “persecuted” the youngster for occupying too much of her time.

Following the verdict, Genevieve's parents, barrister John Meehan and solicitor Katie Wheeler, said they would “never forgive the callousness” of Roughley for treating their daughter with “cruelty and contempt”.

Mr Meehan said: “She was entrusted with the care of our daughter, yet she put her own convenience and selfish interests above Genevieve’s life.

“She has shown no remorse for Genevieve’s death. Her expressions of sorrow during the trial were as insincere as they were insulting.

“For many, Genevieve is just a baby that was seen on CCTV or discussed in evidence during this trial. But to us she is our precious and wonderful daughter and she is not to be defined by the manner of her death.

“She was a person. She loved to laugh, to play with her tambourine, to eat spaghetti bolognese and spend time with her big sister.”

Roughley's colleagues at the nursery and paramedics tried to revive Genevieve but her condition was irreversible and she was pronounced dead later that day in hospital.

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