A Stockport nursery worker was found guilty of manslaughter after tying a nine-month-old baby face down to a bean bag and leaving it there for 90 minutes. The incident occurred at Tiny Toes Nursery in Cheadle Hulme and resulted in the tragic death of Genevieve Meehan on May 9, 2022.
Kate Roughley, 37, was accused of putting Genevieve in “danger of death” as a form of punishment. The trial revealed that the child died from asphyxiation after being placed in a very unsafe sleeping environment. Roughley had used straps to secure the baby, supposedly to prevent her from falling, but this action caused the child’s death.
Genevieve’s family expressed their devastation in a statement, saying they are sorry for everything Genevieve has lost. They took her life away from her, she was so full of wonder and promise. The family described Genevieve as kind, caring, independent and mischievous, with a love of life they deeply appreciated, she said. The Bolton News.
During the trial, it was revealed that Genevieve had been swaddled and placed face down on the bean bag, where she eventually became unwell. Roughley claimed that the bean bag was commonly used for babies when nursery cribs were full. However, the jury was shown CCTV footage from the nursery which captured the tragic event in which Genevieve was left “virtually immobilised” for more than an hour and a half.
Prosecutor Peter Wright KC argued that Roughley’s actions were deliberate, suggesting Genevieve was being punished for not sleeping as expected. He said Genevieve was being punished for his earlier perceived misdemeanors of not getting enough sleep as she liked. She was being banished to the beanbag and restrained. It was a recipe for disaster, and disaster followed.
The trial jury, made up of six men and six women, found Roughley guilty of unlawful acts of manslaughter. Some jurors were visibly emotional as they watched CCTV footage from the nursery showing Genevieve’s struggle and her eventual death. Wright emphasized the baby’s desperate fight for survival, which was tragically ignored by Roughley.
CCTV footage revealed Roughley’s complete lack of care and tenderness towards Genevieve, showing instances of rough treatment and harsh comments. Roughley admitted to appearing impatient in the footage, but denied any malice, insisting his actions were intended to entertain the babies.
Despite Roughley’s claims that he treated Genevieve no differently from other children and that the baby’s death was an unavoidable accident, the court found his actions unforgivable. The defense highlighted that the staff-to-child ratio at the nursery had worsened significantly, which could contribute to the incident.
Genevieve’s family expressed their deep sorrow, expressing their desperation to hold her in their arms and the heartbreaking reality of her absence. They lamented that instead of seeing her start preschool, they are dealing with her tragic death.
Karen Tonge, from the North West Crown Prosecution Service, commented on the verdict, highlighting Roughley’s complete disregard for Genevieve’s welfare. Ella tonge declared that, for some inexplicable reason, Kate Roughley had taken a dislike to Genevieve, and this was made clear for all to hear and see. Roughley will be sentenced Wednesday, closing a heartbreaking chapter for Genevieve’s family and the community.