Indi Gregory's father pays tribute to 'true warrior' at funeral

Indi Gregory's cortege drove through the centre of Nottingham

A baby who died after being at the centre of a legal battle has been called a "true warrior" at her funeral by her father.

Indi Gregory, who had mitochondrial disease, died on 13 November after efforts to stop doctors withdrawing treatment failed.

Her family had lost legal bids to have her moved to a hospital in Rome.

Dean Gregory called his daughter "beautiful, strong and unique" at the service in Nottingham on Friday.

Doctors said treatment was causing Indi pain and was not helping her condition

More than 100 people, including a delegation from the Italian government, including Minister of Families Eugenia Roccella and Minister of Disabilities Alessandra Locatelli, gathered inside Nottingham Cathedral for the service.

Inside the cathedral, a tribute read out by Canon Paul Newman on behalf of Mr Gregory, 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.

"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."

Indi's father Dean Gregory spoke of the numerous health challenges she had faced

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."

At the service, a book featuring thousands of tributes from across Italy was presented to Mr Gregory and Indi's mother Claire Staniforth.

Over the past several months, the couple, from Ilkeston, Derbyshire, have launched a number of legal challenges in a bid to prolong their daughter's life.

Indi had mitochondrial disease, which prevents cells in the body producing energy and the NHS says the condition is incurable.

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.

Among the tributes to Indi was one from the Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni

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.

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

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."