Nursery worker accused of killing a nine

A nursery worker accused of killing a nine-month-old baby after allegedly leaving her face down and strapped to a bean bag for more than an hour told police she'd put the baby 'on her side', a court has heard. 

Genevieve Meehan died after she was found unresponsive at the Tiny Toes Children's Day Nursery in Cheadle Hulme, Greater Manchester, on May 9, 2022.

Deputy manager Kate Roughley is on trial at Manchester Crown Court accused of causing Genevieve's death through her ill-treatment.

The prosecution alleges that the 37-year-old ignored the 'serious and obvious' risks due to the positioning of the baby, who was also tightly swaddled on the bean bag.

Roughley was a qualified nursery nurse and early years practitioner with 17 years of experience and was the baby room leader and in charge of sleep arrangements on the day of the tragedy.

Deputy manager Kate Roughley (pictured)  is on trial at Manchester Crown Court accused of causing baby Genevieve's death through her ill-treatment

Genevieve Meehan died after she was found unresponsive at the Tiny Toes Children's Day Nursery (pictured) in Cheadle Hulme, Greater Manchester

In a video interview she gave to police that was played to to the jury, she insisted she had left Genevieve - known as Gigi - 'on her side' on the bean bag.

Roughley told officers she had 'swaddled' the baby in a blanket before placing her down.

One officer then asked her: 'What position did you put her on the bean-bag?'

Roughley replied: 'On her side.'

The officer then asked which side and Roughley replied to the 'right' with her head facing 'to the left'.

'I've never explained it in that way before which is why I'm a bit confused,' Roughley added. 

The prosecution claims Roughley ignored Genevieve's crying and desperate movements as she struggled to breathe while she was strapped to the bean bag.

It's alleged Roughley also 'lied' to police to cover up what she'd done by telling them she constantly checked on babies in her care.

The jury previously heard that the cause of Genevieve's death was a combination of asphyxia and pathophysiological stress caused by 'an unsafe sleep environment'.

Peter Wright KC, prosecuting, told them: 'Her death was not the result of some terrible or unavoidable accident.

Nurse Kate Roughley is seen leaving Manchester Crown Court after Genevieve's death 

The prosecution claims Roughley ignored Genevieve's crying and desperate movements as she struggled to breathe while she was strapped to the bean bag

'We say her death arose from ill- treatment she suffered at the hands of this defendant.

Genevieve had been dropped off by her parents John and Katie at 9am and was found unresponsive later that day at around 3.12pm.

Mr Wright said the reason for the baby's condition wasn't immediately apparent but became clear following the examination of CCTV footage.

He said Genevieve had been put to sleep by Roughley that afternoon, who had swaddled her in a blanket so tightly she was unable to move.

The child had also been placed not on her back, according to safe sleep policies, but on her front and face down while strapped to a bean using a harness.

A blanket was also placed over her that practically covered her head to toe, he said, with the 'inevitable consequence' it would make observations more difficult and increase the risk of overheating.

He said Genevieve was 'distressed by this treatment' yet her cries were ignored and she was left tightly swaddled, restrained and covered in this position from around 1.35pm until she was discovered unresponsive - an hour and 37 minutes later.

Mr Wright told the jury that any level of interest in the wellbeing of Genevieve during this period was 'sporadic and at best fleeting'.

'The risk to her of asphyxiation and death was, we say, both serious and obvious,' he said.

'Yet the defendant ignored it and by the time she checked on Genevieve with anything vaguely representing any genuine interest in her condition it was too late.'

Nursery staff and paramedics attempted to resuscitate Genevieve and she was taken to hospital but couldn't be saved.

It's alleged that in the days leading up to the tragedy Roughley had shown a 'lack of affection' towards Genevieve that was 'not merely visible, but tangible'.

She had become 'frustrated' and had displayed a 'marked and obvious disinclination' to care for her and shown her 'antipathy' and 'hostility', it is claimed.

Roughley, of Heaton Norris, Stockport, denies charges of manslaughter and child cruelty.

Sarah Elliot KC, defending, previously told the jury Genevieve's death was 'a terrible and unavoidable accident' but not caused by any act by Roughley that was unlawful.