A review is to be commissioned to establish whether opportunities were missed to handle the risks presented by the man accused of the murder of showjumper Katie Simpson.
The trial of Jonathan Creswell (36) for the murder of Ms Simpson ended last April last year after he died suddenly.
Ms Simpson (21), from Tynan, Co Armagh, died in Altnagelvin Hospital almost a week after an incident in Gortnessy Meadows, Lettershandoney, in Co Derry, on August 3rd, 2020.
Police originally thought she had taken her own life. It was not until the following year that Creswell, the partner of Ms Simpson’s sister, was arrested on suspicion of her murder. Creswell had previously been jailed after being convicted of assaulting a former partner in 2009.
While a gym mat might be okay for kneeling on, a cross-training machine makes a poor altar
Owen Doyle: Chris Busby resigning shows Mack Hansen issue has been botched from first to last
Laura Slattery: More masculine energy? Only a Musk-Zuck inauguration day cage fight will do
Ciarán Cuffe: While LA burns, Fianna Fáil says pro-climate policies are ‘open for discussion’
It has emerged that Creswell was not subject to a risk management plan at the time of Ms Simpson’s death.
Stormont justice minister Naomi Long has commissioned a review to establish whether opportunities were missed to refer Creswell into the Public Protection Arrangements Northern Ireland (PPANI) system.
Ms Long’s Alliance Party colleague and Policing Board member, Nuala McAllister, had asked the minister if she would commission a Serious Case Review (SCR) under the terms of the PPANI to consider whether there had been potential referral failures in the case of Creswell.
In a written answer, the minister said a SCR was only applicable for cases already managed through PPANI. As Creswell was not being managed under the arrangements, Ms Long said a such a review would be “speculative” and beyond scope.
However, the minister said she was committed to a separate review of the Creswell case to examine if there had been opportunities to refer him into the risk management arrangements. She has also instigated a general review of the referral process.
The cover-up: How Jonathan Creswell tried to get away with murder - Part 1
Presented by Bernice Harrison, produced by Suzanne Brennan.
Ms Long said she recognised that there “may have been points at which Jonathan Creswell could have been referred into PPANI for management under those arrangements”.
“It is vital that we fully understand the circumstances and take account of any learning around the management of serious offenders,” she added.
“This review is intended to establish when he came into contact with any of the PPANI agencies; if there were opportunities to refer him into the arrangements; and to identify learning.”
She said the full terms of reference were being finalised and it was her intention to appoint an independent reviewer to undertake this work.
Ms McAllister welcomed the minister’s undertaking. “I have been consistently clear the serious failings in relation to Jonathan Creswell must be uncovered and so I welcome this confirmation from the Justice Minister,” she said.
She said there was evidence suggesting opportunities were missed by the PSNI and that PPANI arrangements should have been in place to manage Creswell.
In regard to the investigation into Ms Simpson’s death, police in Northern Ireland have apologised to her family after a watchdog found their initial investigation was flawed. The Police Ombudsman last year concluded the PSNI had “failed” Ms Simpson’s family and criticised a “lack of investigative mindset”.
A PSNI spokesperson said on Monday: “The Police Service of Northern Ireland will work alongside partner agencies and fully co-operate with the review into Public Protection Arrangements Northern Ireland (PPANI) announced today, Monday 13th January by the Justice Minister.”
A statement from KRW Law, which represents Ms Simpson’s family, also welcomed the review.
The statement said: “Serious issues and potential failings have been raised in this matter and the review will therefore be of utmost importance in establishing what went wrong, what opportunities were missed and how these processes should operate in the future.” – PA