### Parents Speak Out After Tragic Nursery Death of Infant Daughter in Cheadle Hulme
The parents of nine-month-old Genevieve Meehan, affectionately known as Gigi, have shared their heartbreak and determination to prompt change in the wake of their daughter’s death at a nursery in Cheadle Hulme. What began as an ordinary day in May 2022 ended in devastation for Katie Wheeler and John Meehan, when they left Gigi in the care of Tiny Toes Children’s Day nursery, expecting her to be in safe and professional hands.
Hours after dropping their daughter at the nursery, the couple faced every parent’s worst nightmare when they received a call to say that Genevieve had fallen seriously ill. Upon arriving at Stepping Hill Hospital, they were told that their beloved child had passed away. It was only during the subsequent investigation that the full distressing circumstances around Gigi’s death became clear — captured through crucial CCTV footage from inside the nursery.
Genevieve, born prematurely but quickly thriving, had brought immense joy to her family. Katie Wheeler described her as “the most delightful, beautiful little soul,” recalling Gigi’s infectious energy and laughter, her love for family and music, and her fondness for the family dog and favourite green tambourine. The youngest of two, Gigi had recently reached milestones such as standing up and waving, filling their home with happiness and pride. Her premature birth had led Katie and John to be especially cautious about her safety, exchanging night shifts to watch over her.
Tiny Toes Day nursery had appeared an ideal choice, with good Ofsted reports and recommendations from friends. “It looked to be established, professional, and safe,” Katie explained. Their search for a nursery was undertaken with careful diligence, particularly given Gigi’s vulnerable start in life. In total, Gigi had attended the setting just eight times before her untimely death.
On that spring day in 2022, Katie received an unexpected call from the nursery. “They told me Genevieve was unresponsive and an ambulance was on its way,” she recalled. Despite desperate efforts, Genevieve could not be revived. The trauma was exacerbated by the suddenness of the loss: “I saw you this morning and you were absolutely fine,” Katie remembered thinking. The family’s anguish was compounded by having to break the news to Gigi’s older sister, who was only six at the time.
It was shockingly revealed at Kate Roughley’s Manchester Crown Court trial that the staff member, who was also the nursery’s deputy manager, had swaddled Gigi tightly in a blanket, placed her face-down on a beanbag, and left her for over an hour. CCTV from the nursery showed that Roughley ignored Gigi’s distress, at times making callous remarks or covering the baby’s head with a blanket. Audio picked up Genevieve’s cries, but no comfort was offered. By the time she was found, Gigi was unresponsive.
Both parents were treated as witnesses throughout the trial, and they only realised the harrowing details of what happened to Genevieve shortly before proceedings began. “To read how she was treated, to see her dehumanised in court — it was like losing her all over again,” said Katie. The experience was distressing, not only due to the details of the case but also because it shattered their faith in the care system. The court found Kate Roughley guilty of manslaughter in May 2024, sentencing her to fourteen years in prison.
In the aftermath of their loss, Katie and John have channelled their grief into campaigning for reforms in nursery safety standards. Key to their demands are the mandatory installation of CCTV in all nursery settings, more frequent and unannounced Ofsted inspections, and compulsory safe sleep training for early years staff. “CCTV was critical in understanding what happened to Genevieve. Without it, we would have had no answers and no accountability,” John explained.
Presently, nurseries are inspected on average only once every six years, and CCTV use remains optional. The Meehans argue that these measures fall short of what is needed to protect children. “Parents trust these settings with their most precious loved ones,” Katie commented. “Our goal is to ensure no other family has to experience this preventable pain.”
Their campaign is not only a response to personal tragedy but also a call for society-wide vigilance and improvement in childcare oversight. For the Meehan family, honouring Gigi’s memory means pushing for changes that may prevent future loss and ensure that every young child is truly safe while in nursery care.