Review to Investigate Risk Management Failures in Showjumper Murder Case
A review is set to explore missed opportunities in managing risks related to the murder of showjumper Ms. Simpson and her accused partner.
Tynan, Co Armagh, Co Londonderry, Jonathan Creswell, Ms Simpson, PPANI
Tynan: The trial of Jonathan Creswell, who was accused of murdering Ms. Simpson, wrapped up in April last year after he passed away unexpectedly.
Ms. Simpson, a 21-year-old showjumper from Tynan, tragically died in Altnagelvin hospital about a week after an incident in Gortnessy Meadows, Lettershandoney, on August 3, 2020.
Initially, police believed she had taken her own life.
It wasn’t until the next year that Creswell, who was Ms. Simpson’s sister’s partner, was arrested on murder charges.
Creswell had a history of violence, having been jailed for assaulting a former partner back in 2009.
Now, it turns out that he wasn’t under any risk management plan when Ms. Simpson died.
Justice Minister Naomi Long has ordered a review to see if there were missed chances to refer Creswell to the Public Protection Arrangements Northern Ireland (PPANI).
Nuala McAllister, a member of the Policing Board and part of Long’s Alliance Party, pushed for a Serious Case Review (SCR) to look into potential failures in Creswell’s case.
In her response, Long noted that an SCR only applies to cases already managed by PPANI.
Since Creswell wasn’t managed under those arrangements, she said an SCR would be “speculative” and out of scope.
However, she is committed to a separate review of Creswell’s case to see if he should have been referred to risk management.
Long acknowledged that there might have been moments when Creswell could have been referred to PPANI.
She emphasized the importance of understanding the circumstances and learning from them regarding serious offenders.
To that end, she’s asked independent Lay Advisers to review the referral process’s effectiveness.
Long is also dedicated to a specific review of Creswell’s case.
This review aims to find out when he interacted with PPANI agencies, if there were chances to refer him, and to gather insights.
The full terms of reference are being finalized, and she plans to appoint an independent reviewer for this task.
McAllister welcomed the minister’s commitment.
She has been vocal about the need to uncover serious failings in Creswell’s case and appreciates the minister taking this seriously.
Creswell’s violent past and criminal record were significant factors in this situation.
McAllister pointed out that there’s evidence suggesting the PSNI missed opportunities to manage Creswell through PPANI.
Regarding the investigation into Ms. Simpson’s death, Northern Ireland police have apologized to her family after a watchdog found their initial investigation lacking.
The Police Ombudsman concluded that the PSNI had “failed” Ms. Simpson’s family and criticized their “lack of investigative mindset.”