Kindergarten teacher pleads not guilty to manslaughter in death of nine-month-old baby who died “due to an unsafe sleeping environment.”

A woman has to stand trial over the death of a nine-month-old baby who fell ill in a daycare center.

Genevieve Meehan suffered a “medical incident” at Tiny Toes daycare in Cheadle, Greater Manchester, on May 9 last year. She was taken to hospital but later died.

Kate Roughley, 36, of Heaton Norris, Stockport, appeared at Manchester Crown Court today charged in connection with Genevieve’s death.

She pleaded not guilty to charges of involuntary manslaughter and child cruelty and is due in court on April 15 next year.

Another hearing will also take place on December 21st.

Kate Roughley (pictured), 36, of Heaton Norris, Stockport, appeared at Manchester Crown Court today charged in connection with Genevieve’s death

Genevieve Meehan suffered a ‘medical incident’ at Tiny Toes daycare (pictured) in Cheadle, Greater Manchester, on May 9 last year. She was taken to hospital but later died

The public gallery was packed with members of Genevieve’s family and Roughley’s parents were also in court.

In a statement at the time of the tragedy, Genevieve’s family said: “On the afternoon of May 9, 2022, our world became very dark.”

“We are devastated beyond words at the loss of our beloved Genevieve.” She was so wanted and so valued. Your absence is the wound that will never heal.

“Genevieve wasn’t just a baby. “She was a wonderful, unique and special person.”

An investigation into Genevieve’s death launched last month concluded that she died due to an “unsafe sleeping environment”.

Coroner Alison Catlow told the inquest that a pathologist had determined the cause of death to be “a combination of asphyxia and pathophysiological stress caused by an unsafe sleeping environment”.

Roughley (pictured) has pleaded not guilty to manslaughter and child cruelty and is due in court on April 15 next year. Another hearing will also take place on December 21st

Two women, aged 35 and 34, were arrested a few days after the incident on suspicion of grossly negligent homicide.

A 24-year-old woman was also arrested on suspicion of child neglect.

All three were later released on bail pending further inquiries.

The nursery has since closed after its registration was suspended by Ofsted last May amid fears children “may be at risk of harm”.

Following the suspension, Ofsted carried out three regulatory visits to the nursery on September 2, 5 and 28 and found it “failed to meet some of the requirements imposed on it as a result of those visits”.

The nursery owners appealed the suspension decision but then withdrew their Ofsted registration.