Genevieve Meehan: Nursery worker who strapped baby face-down to bean bag and ‘left her to die’ jailed for 14 years
A deputy manager of a nursery has been jailed for 14 years for killing a baby girl she strapped face down on a bean bag for more than 90 minutes.
Kate Roughley had been found guilty of manslaughter by ill-treatment of nine-month-old Genevieve Meehan, who died at Tiny Toes in Cheadle Hulme, Stockport, on 9 May 2022.
Prosecutors said the girl, known as Gigi by her family, died from asphyxiation from a combination of “pathophysiological stresses”.
Kate Roughley at Manchester Crown Court. Pic: Ioannis Alexopoulos/LNP/Shutterstock
Roughley had placed her face-down, tightly swaddled and strapped to a bean bag before covering her with a blanket.
The nursery deputy manager then ignored the cries and distress of Genevieve and showed “sporadic” and “fleeting” interest in her wellbeing for one hour and 37 minutes until she found her blue and unresponsive, prosecutors said.
Sentencing, Mrs Justice Ellenbogen told the defendant Genevieve’s death was “absolutely avoidable”.
She said: “As the harrowing CCTV audio and video footage showed, that day you left Genevieve in that position only carrying the most cursory and infrequent of checks.
“I am certain that every person in this courtroom who watched that footage was willing you to pick her up and remove her from the danger you had placed her, knowing of course that you didn’t.”
The judge went on: “It was apparent that at best you considered Genevieve to be a nuisance and at times displayed antipathy and frustration with her.
“Your interactions with Genevieve on 6 May and 9 May palpably lacked any care, kindness or concern for her wellbeing.”
Genevieve Meehan. Pic: Family handout via Greater Manchester Police
Read more:
Parents will ‘never forgive’ nursery worker who killed baby girl
As Genevieve’s crying “intensified” as she struggled on the bean bag, the judge told Roughley: “Even then you didn’t approach her, pick her up or shown any concern for her welfare. You left her to die.”
The 37-year-old, who was the duty baby room leader in charge of sleeping arrangements that day, told Manchester Crown Court she placed Genevieve on her side, claiming her face was visible at all times.
She said she had no concerns she was in any distress.
Jurors were in tears at the start of the trial as they watched the nursery CCTV footage which captured the tragedy unfolding from 1.35pm to 3.12pm.
The defendant’s case was that Genevieve’s death was a “terrible and unavoidable accident” and not the result of any unlawful acts.
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Roughley, of Heaton Norris, Stockport, joined Tiny Toes straight from college at the age of 18 and said she gained most of her knowledge of working with babies and young children from her colleagues.
She said the ratio of staff to children at the nursery “gradually worsened”.
In April and May 2022 the staff-to-children ratio was at various times one to nine, two to 11, two to 13 and one to 16, the court heard.
Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has called on Sir Keir Starmer to sack Treasury minister Tulip Siddiq over allegations she lived in properties linked to allies of her aunt, Sheikh Hasina, the deposed prime minister of Bangladesh.
It comes after the current Bangladeshi leader, Muhammad Yunus, said London properties used by Ms Siddiq should be investigated.
He told the Sunday Times the properties should be handed back to his government if they were acquired through “plain robbery”.
Tory leader Ms Badenoch said: “It’s time for Keir Starmer to sack Tulip Siddiq.
“He appointed his personal friend as anti-corruption minister and she is accused herself of corruption.
“Now the government of Bangladesh is raising serious concerns about her links to the regime of Sheikh Hasina.”
Ms Siddiq insists she has “done nothing wrong”.
Her aunt was ousted from office in August following an uprising against her 20-year leadership and fled to India.
Ms Siddiq is also named with her aunt in Bangladesh court documents about meetings with the Russian government.
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has called on Sir Keir to sack the minister
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As economic secretary to the Treasury, Ms Siddiq is responsible for policy on both the City and tackling corruption.
She referred herself to the prime minister’s ethics watchdog on Monday following the reports about the properties.
On the same day, the prime minister said: “Tulip Siddiq has acted entirely properly by referring herself to the independent adviser, as she’s now done, and that’s why we brought into being the new code.
“It’s to allow ministers to ask the adviser to establish the facts, and yes, I’ve got confidence in her, and that’s the process that will now be happening.”
Police in Aberdeen have widened the search area for two sisters who disappeared four days ago in the city.
Eliza and Henrietta Huszti, both 32, were last seen on CCTV on Market Street after leaving their home on Tuesday at around 2.12am.
The sisters – who are part of a set of triplets and originally from Hungary – crossed the Victoria Bridge to the Torry area and turned right on to a footpath next to the River Dee.
Eliza and Henrietta Huszti were last seen on CCTV in Market Street. Pic: Police Scotland/PA
They headed in the direction of Aberdeen Boat Club but officers said there is no evidence to suggest the missing women left the immediate area.
Specialist search teams, police dogs and a marine unit have been trying to trace the pair.
The sisters crossed Victoria Bridge before walking along a footpath next to the River Dee
The pair were heading in the direction of Aberdeen Boat Club on the south side of the River Dee
Further searches are being carried out towards the Port of Aberdeen’s South Harbour and Duthie Park.
Police Scotland said it is liaising with authorities in Hungary to support the relatives of the two sisters.
Chief Inspector Darren Bruce said: “Eliza and Henrietta’s family are understandably extremely worried about them and we are working tirelessly to find them.
“We are seriously concerned about them and have significant resources dedicated to the inquiry.”
The sisters, from Aberdeen city centre, are described as slim with long brown hair.
Henrietta Huszti. Pic: Police Scotland
Eliza Huszti. Pic: Police Scotland
Officers have requested businesses in and around the South Esplanade and Menzies Road area to review their CCTV footage for the early morning of Tuesday 7 January.
Police added they are keen to hear from anyone with dashcam footage from that time.
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