Indi Gregory’s dad pays heartbreaking tribute to ‘beautiful warrior’ at her funeral

The dad of Indi Gregory carries her coffin ahead of the service to her life after she died at eight months old (Picture: PA)

The dad of a baby who died at just eight months old has paid tribute to his ‘beautiful warrior’ daughter.

Indi Gregory was born in February this year with a rare genetic condition known as mitochondrial disease.

The girl from Nottingham was at the centre of repeated unsuccessful legal battles as her parents fought to keep her on life support.

The funeral took place today with her dad carrying her coffin into Nottingham Cathedral following a procession through the city.

Indi died at a hospice in the early hours of November 13.

Her parents Dean Gregory and Claire Staniforth who are both in their 30s and from Ilkeston, Derbyshire, lost legal bids in the High Court and Court of Appeal in London for specialists to keep treating her.

A message on a card from the parents of baby Indi Gregory, during her funeral service at St Barnabus Cathedral, Nottingham (Picture: PA)

The couple, supported by campaign group Christian Concern, also failed in a bid to transfer Indi to the Bambino Gesu Paediatric Hospital in Rome for specialist treatment.

The Italian government later offered to pay for Indi’s funeral after hearing of the family’s plight.

Before a service led by the Bishop of Nottingham, Reverend Patrick McKinney, Indi’s white coffin, adorned with pink and white flowers, was carried through the city’s streets in a horse-drawn carriage.

A procession of eight Rolls-Royce cars transported Indi’s family behind the carriage.

Dean Gregory and Claire Staniforth with their daughter Indi Gregory during her stay in hospital where she was christened (Picture: PA)

More than 100 people, including a delegation from the Italian government, gathered inside the cathedral for the service, which featured a choir and organ music.

Mr Gregory said in an earlier statement that Indi would have her favourite musical lamb toy in her coffin with her.

Inside the cathedral, a tribute read out by Canon Paul Newman on behalf of Mr Gregory, recognised Indi as a ‘true warrior’.

He said: ‘I honestly and truly feel, deep in my heart, that Indi was not only beautiful, strong and unique. I just knew, from the start, she was very special.

Indi was pictured on the order of service card with a small bunny rabbit soft toy (Picture: PA)

‘Nonetheless, I could never have imagined the sort of journey we and Indi would have to go through to fight for her life.

‘She didn’t only have to battle against her health problems, she had to battle against a system that makes it almost impossible to win.

‘Yet, it was her weakest point, her health problems, that distinguished Indi as a true warrior.

‘Indi overcame so much: she had seizures, two operations, sepsis, e-coli, including other infections, that even another child would struggle to beat.

A horse-drawn carriage carried Indi for her final journey flanked by a convoy of Rolls Royces (Picture: PA)

‘But Indi’s determination to fight for a chance of life really inspired me.

‘The strength she had for an eight-month-old child was incredible. And this is one of the reasons I would have done anything for Indi to have the chance to live which was denied her.’

The grieving parents have vowed to make sure their daughter is ‘remembered forever’.

Mr Gregory’s tribute added: ‘I have now reached the conclusion that this was indeed Indi’s destiny … but now this chapter of Indi’s destiny is over.

‘Her legacy, however, has only just begun. I wanted to make sure Indi would be remembered forever and she will live on in our hearts and through our voices.’

During the service, a book featuring thousands of tributes from across Italy was presented to Indi’s parents.

During the legal battle, High Court judge Mr Justice Peel had ruled limiting Indi’s treatment would be lawful, and doing so would be in her best interests.

The funeral cortege of baby Indi Gregory, arrives at St Barnabus Cathedral, Nottingham, for her funeral service (Picture: PA)

Her parents then failed to persuade Court of Appeal judges and judges at the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, France, to overturn that treatment decision.

Mr Justice Peel also ruled a move to Italy would not be in Indi’s best interests and Court of Appeal judges backed that decision.

Judges heard Indi, who was born on February 24, had mitochondrial disease – a genetic condition that saps energy.

Specialists said she was dying and the treatment she was receiving caused pain and was futile.

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Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni said in a statement posted on X, formerly Twitter, after Indi’s death: ‘We did everything we could, everything possible. Unfortunately it wasn’t enough. Have a safe trip little Indi.’

Meanwhile Archie Battersbee’s mum said she was ‘heartbroken’ when she heard Indi Gregory’s parents were going through the same legal battle she went through to try and save her son.

Hollie Dance, who attended Indi’s funeral on Friday, said: ‘I reached out to let them know I was there for them, supporting them going forward with their fight. I said, whatever you decide to do, just know we are all behind you.

‘It’s a lot to go through. You really are alone, I didn’t have family with me, my family were my close friends and the support from my hometown and from the rest of the world was amazing.’

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‘I honestly and truly feel, deep in my heart, that Indi was not only beautiful, strong and unique. I just knew, from the start, she was very special.’