New charity ‘a legacy’ to murdered young showjumper

The family of a young showjumper whose death led to a policing controversy say a new charitable trust in her name will help other families advocate for themselves.

Katie Simpson, 21, died six days after being admitted to Altnagelvin Hospital in August 2020.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) initially treated her death as suicide, but her family raised questions about the direction of the original police probe and the case was eventually upgraded to a murder investigation.

A showjumping trainer, Jonathan Creswell, 36, died in 2024 while on trial for Ms Simpson’s murder.

On Friday, some members of her family attended the official launch of The Katie Trust.

Her aunt, Paula Mullan, told BBC News NI that she hopes the charity’s advocacy will help other families.

“This charity is going to help so much and so many people, that they don’t feel alone and that they’re being answered, their questions to be answered.”

Another aunt, Colleen McConville said: “The very sad thing is it’s happening too often.

“This charity will help straight away from the onset, not down the line, which is harder to be investigated, so it will give families direct and quick answers.”

The Katie Trust has been founded by James Brannigan, a retired PSNI Detective Sergeant who led the murder investigation, with the support of Katie Simpson’s relatives.

“This Trust is here to listen, when so many have not. It is here to ask the hard questions, when others will not,” Mr Brannigan said.

“And above all, it is here to stand beside families, not in opposition to law enforcement, but in service of justice and truth.”

In January 2025, the justice minister announced she was setting up an independent review into the case of Jonathan Creswell, who was not the subject of a risk management plan despite having assaulted a girlfriend years before.

Katie Simpson never regained consciousness following the incident at a house in Gortnessy Meadows, Lettershandoney, in August 2020.

On the first and only day of his trial for murder, it was alleged that Creswell strangled her and tried to cover it up by claiming she had hanged herself.

Creswell, who had denied the murder and rape of Ms Simpson, was found dead at his home shortly before he was due to attend the second day of his trial in April 2024.

The previous day, during opening submissions in front of a jury, a prosecution lawyer outlined how Creswell allegedly raped, strangled and killed Ms Simpson.

The prosecution had also outlined how Creswell had previous “illicit” sexual relations with Ms Simpson and attacked her after discovering she was in a relationship with somebody else.

Ms Simpson lived with Creswell and his partner Christina, who was her sister, at the time of her death.

Creswell had been described as an abusive and controlling person.

Three women avoided jail last year after admitting offences connected to her death.

Jill Robinson, Rose De Montmorency-Wright, and Hayley Robb were given suspended prison sentences.