‘No evidence’ to support criminal allegation linked to Katie Simpson probe

There is no evidence to support an allegation of criminal wrongdoing made about a police officer involved in the PSNI investigation into the 2020 murder of showjumper Katie Simpson, Police Ombudsman investigators have said.

The complaint centred on the initial decision by police not to treat Ms Simpson’s death as suspicious and alleged the officer had conflicts of interest which influenced that decision-making.

A legal firm representing Ms Simpson’s family said the findings “highlight the ongoing lack of clarity regarding ownership of the police investigation at its early and crucial stages”.

Ms Simpson, 21, from Tynan, Co Armagh, died in Altnagelvin Area Hospital almost a week after an incident in Gortnessy Meadows, Lettershandoney, on August 3 2020.

Police originally thought 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, for the murder of Ms Simpson ended in April following his sudden death in 2024.

The report from the Police Ombudsman said inquiries, including witness interviews and examinations of investigative material, phone and email records, found no evidence of any personal connections between the police officer and other named parties.

The case has now been closed.

The office of the ombudsman said the findings of its investigation into how the PSNI responded to Ms Simpson’s death were reported to her family in November 2024.

However, it said it had been unable to share details of a specific element of the original investigation relating to the same police officer because of the linked complaint.

The ombudsman said this was to “maintain the integrity of the investigation and to ensure fairness for the police officer involved”.

The Simpson family have now been informed that the Police Ombudsman made no recommendations to the PSNI in respect of the police officer as part of its original investigation, and it has found no evidence of criminal wrongdoing in its subsequent investigation.

Two further complaints made to the Police Ombudsman and linked to the murder of Ms Simpson are now at an advanced stage.

In the November 2024 report, the ombudsman concluded the initial police investigation into the death of the showjumper was “flawed” and “failed the Simpson family”.

That report concluded the police investigation was hindered by the misleading working assumption adopted by a number of officers that her injuries were self-inflicted.

PSNI Assistant Chief Constable Davy Beck said: “We note today’s announcement from the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland (PONI), which states that no evidence was found to support an allegation of criminal wrongdoing, made about a police officer involved in the PSNI investigation into the murder of Katie Simpson.

“We remain committed to learning from this case and will continue to co-operate fully with PONI in relation to any complaint.”

In a statement, KRW Law, which represents Ms Simpson’s family, said: “The findings shared today again highlight the ongoing lack of clarity regarding ownership of the police investigation at its early and crucial stages.

“As confirmed by PONI, responsibility for the case appeared to shift ambiguously between the local policing team , Criminal Investigation Department, and the Major Investigation Team.”

It added: This structural confusion lies at the heart of the family’s concerns and has yet to be satisfactorily addressed.”

Solicitor Kevin Winters, from KRW Law, added: “The highly unusual conflation of ownership between various entities within PSNI has not been satisfactorily resolved.

“Our clients, the next of kin, are unhappy at the outcome and rather than dispel rumour and suspicion, today’s communication has only served to compound their anxieties.

“The simple fact remains that the Katie Simpson murder investigation fell between three stools, not two.”