The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) has issued an apology for what it describes as “unacceptable failings” in its investigation into the death of showjumper Katie Simpson. This follows an independent review which concluded that “institutional misogyny” contributed to “clear warning signs” being overlooked.
Systematic Failures Identified
The review, led by Dr Jan Melia and commissioned by the Department of Justice, highlighted that “not one officer thought seriously about abuse/control” during the police investigation in 2020. It cited “systematic failures” and also criticised other bodies, including social services, the health service, and the equestrian sector, for shortcomings in safeguarding. The report makes 16 recommendations, many focusing on training improvements.
PSNI Assistant Chief Constable Davy Beck stated that the force accepts the findings in full. “The review makes clear that we missed opportunities. Warning signs were not fully recognised early enough and we did not listen to some of those who raised early concerns,” he said. “The failings are clear, we fell short and for that I am truly sorry.”
Background of the Case
Ms Simpson, 21, from Tynan, County Armagh, died in Altnagelvin Area Hospital nearly a week after an incident in Gortnessy Meadows, Lettershandoney. Initially, police believed she had taken her own life. It was not until the following year that Jonathan Creswell, the partner of Ms Simpson’s sister, was arrested on suspicion of murder. The trial of Creswell, 36, ended in April 2024 after he took his own life following the first day of proceedings.
The review found that 37 individuals, both female and male, have come forward to report abuse by Creswell. Officers failed to identify inconsistencies in his account, neglected to preserve vital evidence, overlooked forensic scenes and opportunities, dismissed key witness statements, and failed to secure crucial digital communications such as text messages and phone records that might have revealed patterns of abuse.
Institutional Misogyny
The report also found “institutional misogyny” within the PSNI, with examples of officers referring to Creswell as a “bad boy” rather than acknowledging him as a violent perpetrator. The review concluded that this language “trivialises male aggression, dismissing harmful behaviour and ultimately protects male perpetrators, simultaneously undermining the credibility of female victims.” It highlighted the need for “trauma-informed training, gender-sensitive risk assessment, and a cultural shift within the PSNI.”
Ms Simpson had been visiting a horse yard near her home from the age of eight, where Creswell worked and was dating her sister. The review found that Creswell had groomed her from the age of 10, subjecting her to a “brutal regime of grooming, coercive control, verbal degradation and physical abuse,” concealed behind a “charming facade.”
Missed Opportunities
The review examined 16 hospital visits by Ms Simpson between 2003 and 2020 with increasingly severe injuries, explained as horse-riding accidents, which should have prompted closer examination. Creswell had a long-term pattern of escalating offending, including motoring offences, dangerous driving, animal abuse, indecent exposure, suspected fraud, and domestic abuse.
Previously, a Police Ombudsman report concluded the initial investigation was “flawed” and “failed the Simpson family.” The PSNI apologised to the family in 2024. The independent review found failings including treating her death as non-suspicious, deficiencies in scene management, neglect of forensic evidence, oversight of suspect history, inadequate witness strategy, fragmented leadership, and limited disciplinary action for identified officers.
Reactions and Next Steps
In a foreword to the report, Ms Simpson’s mother, Noeleen Mullan, said it was “hard to read,” noting that “so many things were missed, not done properly and it felt like there was a lack of care for Katie from the police.”
Brendan Mullan, chairman of the policing board, described the review as “deeply troubling reading,” highlighting the need for “both systems and attitudinal change within policing and the Criminal Justice System.”
Justice Minister Naomi Long, making an oral statement in the Assembly, said a “debt of gratitude” was owed to those who raised concerns. She announced that Dr Melia will co-ordinate and chair an implementation group for the 16 recommendations. “My department and our partners will act on the recommendations contained in Dr Melia’s report and ensure lessons are not simply learned but embedded,” she told MLAs.
The Katie Trust, set up in Ms Simpson’s memory, welcomed the review as a “significant and necessary step toward transparency and accountability.”
