Police apologize as watchdog finds Katie Simpson’s family ‘failed’ by investigation

Police in Northern Ireland have apologized to the family of murdered show jumping rider Katie Simpson after a watchdog found their initial investigation flawed.

The Police Ombudsman’s investigation concluded it had “let down” Ms Simpson’s family and criticized a “lack of investigative mentality”.

The 21-year-old from Tynan, Co Armagh, died in Altnagelvin Area Hospital for almost a week after an incident in Gortnessy Meadows, Lettershandoney, on August 3, 2020.

Police initially thought she had committed suicide.

It was only the following year that Jonathan Creswell, the partner of Mrs Simpson’s sister, was arrested on suspicion of murder.

The trial of Creswell, 36, for Mrs Simpson’s murder ended in April after his sudden death.

Mrs Simpson’s mother, Noeleen Mullan, said the family felt “empty” and that nothing had been achieved after reading the report.

She has called for greater accountability among the higher ranks of the police force.

However, she also paid tribute to the work of a senior detective and members of the public who came forward to support the case against Creswell.

PSNI Chief Constable Jon Boutcher previously met with the Simpson family and is understood to have offered to meet them again following the Ombudsman’s report.

On Tuesday, Deputy Chief Commissioner Davy Beck apologized on behalf of the service following the publication of the report.

Speaking at a press conference at PSNI headquarters in Belfast, he expressed his condolences to Mrs Simpson’s family and friends and said he recognized there were “shortcomings at various stages of the investigation into Katie’s death”.

“I apologize unreservedly for this,” he said.

The Ombudsman’s investigation concluded that the police investigation was hampered by the misleading working assumption of some officers that Ms Simpson’s injuries were self-inflicted.

They criticized a ‘lack of investigative mentality’, taking into account the fact that police had received information that Mrs Simpson may have been the victim of controlling behaviour, that the suicide attempt was suspicious, that she had not fallen from a horse, and that medical staff also had concerns about the circumstances of her injuries.

Hugh Hume, head of the police ombudsman, said that while this information was reviewed and recorded by police, it “did not change the direction of the police investigation”.

“There seemed to be a general lack of investigative mentality, which contributed to the shortcomings,” he said.

The investigation found that no effective searches were carried out at Ms Simpson’s address and no supervisory officer attended the home in the early stages of the investigation.

One of the other shortcomings in the investigation identified by the Police Ombudsman was the lack of attention to the collection of potential physical evidence from Ms Simpson herself, including blood samples and photographs of her injuries, despite police being aware of this at an early stage height was that it was unlikely that she would survive.

The Police Ombudsman’s investigation found breaches of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) Code of Ethics in relation to professional duties, the conduct of police investigations and the duty of supervisors.

As a result, disciplinary recommendations have been made to the PSNI against six police officers. No action was taken against three officers, two of whom were retired and one of whom had no proven wrongdoing.

One police officer received a written warning, another received action aimed at improving performance and one received management advice.

Three recommendations have been made to the PSNI.

The family’s attorney, Kevin Winters, described the Ombudsman’s findings as a “stepping stone on what continues to be a long, winding road to justice for the Simpson family.”

“Today’s findings help provide much-needed answers, but there are also unresolved issues arising from new complaints, one of which involves an on-duty member of the police force,” he said.

“As part of the accountability process, the family is strongly in favor of taking legal action and a number of family members have indicated that they wish to do so, as ultimately they were already deeply traumatized by what happened to Katie and re-traumatized by the failings recorded in policy. There must be accountability for this.”

It is understood the family have made further complaints to the Police Ombudsman.

An inquest will also be held to investigate the circumstances of Mrs Simpson’s death.

At a brief hearing at Laganside Courthouse on Tuesday, coroner Joe McCrisken was briefed on preparations for the inquest, including the process of disclosing material by the PSNI and the Police Ombudsman.

The next hearing will take place on January 21.