Padiham baby death tragedy

Layla-Mai O’Malley-Shearer died in her sleep on Saturday.

Her mum Georgina O’Malley (18), of Victoria Road, Padiham, said, despite her age, Layla-Mai had plenty of personality, knew what she wanted and was always happy.

“She was beautiful and cheeky. She used to stick her tongue out a lot. She loved ‘Twinkle Twinkle Little Star’ and if we sang it to her she would do some of the actions with her hands.

“Her favourite toy was a dolly that laughed. It was really scary but she loved playing with it,” said Georgina, who attended Hameldon Community College and Sir Thomas Whitham Sixth Form, Burnley.

Georgina said Layla-Mai was doted on by her grandparents, Georgina’s mum Catherine Bradbury and stepdad Steven Parkinson, of Padiham, and dad and stepmum Seamus and Jean O’Malley, who live in Manchester. “My stepdad Steven was her favourite, she was a grandad’s girl. If they were eating, she’d go over to them in her baby walker and stare at him so he would give her some food and when my mum had a brew she would try and steal it. But she was also a mummy’s girl.”

“She loved cuddles and pulling my hair. She was such a good baby. She will be missed by everyone.”

Since the tragedy, friends of Georgina and Layla-Mai’s dad Andrew Shearer (20) have organised a fund-raiser at Koko’s in Burnley on Sunday to help towards a memorial fund.

Admission to the event, which starts at 3 p.m., is £3.

There will be collection buckets, an auction and DJ and Koko’s owner Mrs Beverley Musso said staff will be donating part of their wages for the day to the cause.

Layla-Mai’s funeral will take place on Wednesday at St John’s RC Church, Padiham, at 12-30 p.m. with burial at Burnley Cemetery at 1-15 p.m. Pink balloons will be released into the sky as a final tribute.

Georgina added: “Everyone has really pulled together for us, even people I don’t know. We’ve had a lot of support.”

Many have already pledged their support for the fund-raiser on social network website Facebook with 320 people confirming their attendance.

East Lancashire Coroner Mr Richard Taylor has been informed of Layla-Mai’s death and an inquest was due to be opened yesterday .

Layla-Mai also leaves four uncles and her godmother Clarissa Taylor.