Cheadle Hulme baby death cause ‘not yet known’, police tell inquest

Police have requested more time to determine the cause of death of a baby who passed away after suffering a “medical episode” at a nursery, an inquest heard. “Beautiful” nine-month-old Genevieve Meehan died following an incident at Tiny Toes Children’s Day Nursery, Cheadle Hulme, in May this year.

Police subsequently arrested two female staff, then aged 35 and 34, on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter and later a third individual on suspicion of child neglect. But at a pre-inquest hearing at Manchester South Coroner’s Court on 30 November, police officers revealed that Genevieve’s cause of death still hadn’t been established. And they said the results of the post-mortem wouldn’t likely be available until May next year.

Coroner Chris Morris started the short 10-minute hearing - which Genevieve’s parents attended via video link - by describing it as “unusual” as there was no cause of death.

He said: “This hearing is a slightly unusual procedural hearing, in as far as although Genevieve’s tragic death was in May this year, a cause of death is yet to be established.”

He then spoke to DCI Whalley, from Greater Manchester Police, who was present at the hearing along with legal representatives for the nursery and the council. And the detective confirmed that the case pathologist, Dr Lumb, had asked for “expert” assistance to determine the reason why Genevieve passed away.

DCI Whalley said: “We are waiting on expert witness reports. The latest we will get them is February 2023. I imagine it will take Dr Lumb a month for them to write their report. I expect their report in early April 2023.”

The officer confirmed that the Crown Prosecution Service was already “involved” in the tragic case, which Genieve’s parents earlier said left them “devastated beyond words.”

Mr Morris adjourned the case until 5 June next year for a further procedural hearing to allow police to “make further progress” with their ongoing investigations.

He said: “I am going to adjourn this very tragic case for another procedural hearing that I am going to list on 5 June 2023 to allow the police to have further time to complete the inquiries or at least make further progress in respect of all the material evidence.”

The Ofsted website lists Tiny Toes Children’s Day Nursery as being closed and a statement on 24 October says the provider resigned their resignation. Ofsted had already suspended their registration on 10 May following the tragedy.