Nursery Nurse Sentenced for Fatally Injuring Baby Tied to Beanbag
A nursery nurse has been sentenced to 14 years in jail for the manslaughter of a 9-month-old baby whom she tied to a beanbag for 90 minutes.
After being found guilty by a jury who watched CCTV footage of the incident, Kate Roughley, 37, was convicted of killing baby Genevieve Meehan, whom the judge described as a “nuisance.”
The incident occurred on May 9, 2022, at Tiny Toes nursery in Cheadle Hulme, Stockport, near Manchester. Roughley had strapped the baby face down on a beanbag, used a harness to restrain her, and covered her with a blanket. Ninety minutes later, the baby was found unresponsive and blue.
A post mortem examination revealed that Genevieve died from asphyxiation due to a combination of pathophysiological stresses caused by the “very unsafe sleeping environment.”
During the sentencing at Manchester Crown Court, Mrs. Justice Ellenbogen stated, “It is apparent that, at best, you considered Genevieve to have been a nuisance and at times displayed considerable exasperation and antipathy towards her.”
Genevieve’s father, John Meehan, shared a victim impact statement in court, expressing his sorrow at never being able to witness his daughter’s growth and milestones. He called Roughley a “cold, callous, and cruel person” and a “child killer.”
Roughley’s defense argued that understaffing and lack of support at the nursery contributed to her actions, claiming that she was “uncaring” rather than “callous and cold-hearted.”
A separate health and safety investigation is ongoing for Tiny Toes, which has since closed down.
Rebecca Gregory, another employee at the nursery, was charged with child neglect unrelated to Genevieve’s death.
PA Media contributed to this report.
