The tragic case of Katie Simpson, a young showjumper from Northern Ireland whose life was cut short under harrowing circumstances, has garnered renewed scrutiny and criticism aimed at the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) due to grave shortcomings found in the initial investigation. Reports from the Police Ombudsman reveal flaws so pronounced it led the watchdog to state unequivocally—had it not been for persistent questioning from concerned friends and family, her death would likely have been recorded as a suicide, thereby depriving her loved ones of the justice they sought.
Simpson, just 21, died on August 10, 2020, after being brutally assaulted at her home near Derry. Jonathan Creswell, her sister’s partner, who had been driving her to Altnagelvin Hospital following the incident, is now implicated as the person responsible for her death. Initially, he told paramedics and police officers present at the scene on August 3, 2020, Simpson had attempted to take her own life. Creswell’s claims set the course of the police investigation, but those narratives began to unravel as more information emerged.
An investigation by the Ombudsman indicated the police displayed “a general lack of investigative mindset”, which resulted in numerous red flags being ignored. Officers had been made aware of Creswell’s past, particularly his 2009 assault conviction, prior to Simpson’s fatal injuries. Nonetheless, the PSNI appeared to accept his versions of events without sufficient scrutiny, and many witnesses’ concerns went unaddressed.
Assistant Chief Constable Davy Beck stated, "We did not act quickly enough in responding to some of the concerns raised around Katie's death." Such admissions, coming after the release of the Ombudsman’s report, reveal systemic failures within the PSNI, where evidence handling lacked rigor, and traditional investigative protocols were not sufficiently followed. Even after Simpson’s death—deemed from initial reports to be accidental—it became clear there were significant signs pointing to foul play.
The investigation had turned from forensic examinations to simply accepting explanations from Creswell and others—a mindset highlighted by the Ombudsman and critics alike. "Sadly, intelligence received both before and after Katie's death signaled her possible victimization, yet it didn't alter the course of the investigation," said Hugh Hume, the Chief Executive of the Police Ombudsman. The report verified concerns shared by medical personnel about the nature of her injuries, but such inquiries did not catalyze necessary actions.
It wasn’t until months later, following intense pressure from the family and those advocating on Simpson’s behalf, did the police finally pivot to classify her death as murder rather than self-inflicted. By then, the suffering endured by Simpson’s family had solidified their commitment to seek justice—a pursuit clouded by grief and frustration.
Following the Ombudsman’s findings, all three PSNI officers involved faced disciplinary actions, though to many, this felt insufficient. There’s been denunciation of what is seen as merely “slap on the wrist” approaches instead of substantial accountability. Simpson's family attorney, Kevin Winters, reflected on the findings, describing them as both necessary yet painfully inadequate. “There’s been no achievement made,” Winters shared. “I wanted them to be made accountable, but I don’t think they ever will be.”
At the core of this tragedy is the realization of broader issues embedded within police procedure—especially concerning violence against women. Accusations of coercion and controlling behaviors by Creswell had been reported long before Simpson’s injuries; these factors ought to have prompted immediate and thorough investigations, yet they faded from the officers’ radar. “We relied too much on forensic post-mortem evidence—evidence we should have sought out ourselves,” Barrett acknowledged, grievously admitting to the systemic failing his department had displayed, by refusing to question not only Creswell’s accounts but the evidence of coercive behavior raised time and again.
Despite the investigations precipitating change to some degree—such as promising police procedure reform—the harrowing reality remains for Katie Simpson’s family, grappling with the painful question of why their daughter was so tragically let down. They continue to navigate their grief compounded by the knowledge the very system meant to protect them failed awful at the most pivotal time.
After Creswell’s alleged actions culminated with him standing trial for murder, he was discovered dead at home; bottling the trial's closure but leaving this family with yet unanswered questions. New complaints against police officers have emerged, some relating to allegations of criminal wrongdoing, signaling the potential for more revelations as the saga continues to unfurl. This case does not merely echo the horrors of a singular tragedy, but rather exposes the need for systemic reform to prevent future failures like those seen against Katie Simpson.
And so, the question persists—how many more lives must be caught within the cracks of systemic failures before true change occurs? Justice for individuals like Simpson should not be contingent on public outcry but mandated by innate investigative protocols becoming more rigorous, unflinching and attuned to the dynamics of domestic abuse. The PSNI’s missteps here must compel not only reflection but decisive action to tackle these deep-seated issues at the societal roots.
