Pictures released of "beautiful, wonderful" Genevieve killed by nursery nurse
37-year-old Kate Roughley has been found guilty of manslaughter
Last updated 20th May 2024
The family of 9-month old Genevieve Meehan, who was killed by a worker at the nursery she want to, have paid tribute to their little girl.
It comes after a nursery nurse, 37-year-old Kate Roughley was found unanimously guilty by a jury of manslaughter.
On 9 May 2022, Greater Manchester Police were called to reports of an unresponsive child at Tiny Toes nursery on Mellor Road, Cheadle Hulme. Despite the best efforts of emergency services, Genevieve Meehan, who was nine months at the time, soon to be ten, sadly passed away.
Detective Inspector Charlotte Whalley, the Senior Investigating Officer for this case said: “Genevieve was so young when her life was so cruelly taken from her, at the hands of a callous and negligent individual. Genevieve should have gone home to her family that day and it was down to the actions of Kate Roughley that she did not.
“At the heart of our investigation is a family whose lives have been torn apart, siblings who will grow up without their sister, parents who will bear the pain of her loss for the rest of their lives, and loved ones who will never get to watch Gigi grow and flourish.
“From the outset, my team has worked tirelessly with the CPS and the council to ensure we can bring some sense of justice for the family you see with me today, and we will continue to do all that we can to support them.
“I welcome the guilty verdict that has been found today, and I extend my gratitude to the jury who have seen and heard the facts of this case, which I have no doubt will stay with them for a long time. Despite the conviction secured today, and the consequences which will ensue at sentencing, I know this will not bring Gigi home to her family.”
Paying tribute to baby Genevieve, her family said: "It has been just over two years since our beautiful and wonderful daughter’s life was taken from her. Genevieve’s loss has destroyed our family. We grieve for her every day. We long desperately to see her smile, hear her laugh and feel her warm embrace. Her absence is a physical and emotional wound that will never heal.
"Genevieve wasn’t just a baby, she was a person. She loved to laugh, to play with her tambourine, to eat Spaghetti Bolognese and to be with her big sister. She was kind, affectionate, independent and mischievous. She was fascinated with the world and everything in it. She embraced every day. She loved life and we loved her instantly.
"We were amazed every day watching her grow and develop. She was such a strong person, bright and talented. To be in her presence was such joy.
"We will never accept the cruelty of her life being taken away. That we will not get to hear her speak her first words or watch her grow up is impossible to comprehend. Genevieve could have done anything she wanted to. She had her whole life to live and was loved so dearly by her family.
"We grieve for what we do not have. Words cannot adequately convey how much we miss Genevieve. We are so desperate for her to be in our arms as she should be and watching her put on her school uniform in September when she would have started pre-school. Instead, we are here in a place we could never have imagined when we took her to nursery that day on 9 May where she was meant to be safe and cared for. The pain of her loss is beyond any measure.
"We grieve for everything Genevieve has lost. Her life, that was so full of wonder and promise, was taken from her.
"We grieve for everything Genevieve has lost. Her life, that was so full of wonder and promise, was taken from her.
"We thank the police for their dedication to getting justice for Genevieve, for their professionalism and their compassion. We would not be here without their commitment or the work of the CPS and the legal team who have fought for Genevieve and our family.
"Our beautiful daughter deserves to be remembered for the wonderful person she is, not the nature of her death. She deserves to have a legacy so that her life can inspire others. As a family, we will work tirelessly to ensure she has the legacy she deserves."
Sentencing has been set for Wednesday 22 May.