A report into the handling of the Katie Simpson case has found that police failures reflected institutional misogyny. The independent review criticised the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) for missing clear signs that the 21-year-old showjumper's death was not suicide but the result of abuse and control.
Katie Simpson, from Tynan, County Armagh, died in hospital in August 2020 after an incident initially treated as a suicide attempt. Seven months later, detectives arrested Jonathan Creswell, a showjumping trainer, on suspicion of murder. Creswell took his own life in April 2024 after the first day of his trial.
The review, led by Dr Jan Melia, found that Creswell had groomed Simpson from the age of 10 and subjected her to coercive control and degradation. It stated that police accepted Creswell's account and failed to treat the case as an abuse/control situation. The report noted that 37 people had come forward alleging abuse by Creswell.
Northern Ireland's justice minister, Naomi Long, told the Stormont assembly that investigative practices must change. The review issued 16 recommendations, focusing on police training and recognising coercive control. Assistant chief constable Davy Beck apologised, acknowledging that the PSNI fell short.
Simpson's mother, Noeleen Mullan, said the report was hard to read. The family's solicitor, Kevin Winters, welcomed the highlighting of misogyny. The family feel strongly that this is a key area for recommendations.
