An independent review has concluded that the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) exhibited institutional misogyny in its handling of the suspected murder of 21-year-old showjumper Katie Simpson. The report, released on Tuesday, found that officers missed clear warning signs that her death in August 2020 was not a suicide but the result of abuse and control by a violent predator.
Katie Simpson, from Tynan, County Armagh, died in hospital in Derry almost a week after an incident initially treated as a suicide attempt. It was not until March 2021 that detectives arrested Jonathan Creswell, a 36-year-old showjumping trainer who had been dating Simpson's sister, on suspicion of murder. Creswell took his own life in April 2024 after the first day of his trial.
Review Findings
The review, led by Dr. Jan Melia, stated that Creswell masked abusive behavior behind a charming facade. "Katie's lived experience was disregarded, clear warning signs were ignored, established protocols were treated as optional or discretionary, and police chose to privilege Creswell's account," Dr. Melia wrote. Simpson was let down at every step, with police inaction rendering her invisible in her own murder, allowing Creswell to maintain control even after death.
According to the report, 37 individuals, both male and female, have come forward to report abuse by Creswell. The review criticized the use of language that trivialized male aggression, such as referring to Creswell as a "bad boy" rather than a violent perpetrator, which undermined the credibility of female victims. "This kind of language is normalised, seen as a bit of laugh or banter, but this is part of the problem," the report stated. "The use of this kind of language is misogynistic because it protects male perpetrators at the expense of female victims."
Political and Family Reactions
Northern Ireland's Justice Minister, Naomi Long, who commissioned the report, told the Stormont assembly that police must recognize the existence and gravity of coercive control. "Katie's death was concealed and staged as suicide, and it is abundantly clear that investigative practices and mindsets must change," she said, asking assembly members to pause in memory of Simpson.
Simpson's mother, Noeleen Mullan, wrote in a foreword to the report that it had been hard to read and that police had shown her daughter a lack of care. Kevin Winters, a solicitor representing the family, welcomed the report's highlighting of misogyny. "The family feel very, very strongly about that and want to put that on the record, and it's one of the key areas that they've been looking to in terms of recommendations," he said.
Police Response
Assistant Chief Constable Davy Beck acknowledged the failings and apologized. "Patterns of coercive control were not sufficiently understood or challenged, investigative decisions did not always reflect the level of professional curiosity and rigour that should have been applied," he said. "The failings are clear, we fell short, and for that I am truly sorry." The PSNI accepted the review and will implement its recommendations.
The review also faulted other agencies, including social services and the health service, but most of its 16 recommendations focused on police training. A 2024 report by the Police Ombudsman had already criticized a "lack of investigative mindset" and prompted a PSNI apology. The independent review identified deficiencies in scene management, neglect of forensic evidence, flawed oversight of suspect history, inadequate witness strategy, fragmented leadership, and limited disciplinary action.
A documentary about the case aired on Sky Documentaries and Now TV in September last year. Support services are available for those affected by domestic abuse or suicidal thoughts.
