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.

It will help "from the onset" if they are unhappy with a police response to a family member's death.

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.

He had assaulted a girlfriend years before but was not the subject of a risk management plan. In January 2025, the justice minister announced she was setting up an independent review into his case.

The Katie Trust has been founded by James Brannigan, a retired PSNI detective sergeant who worked on the murder investigation, with the support of Katie Simpson's relatives.

It will seek independent accountability for families who have questions around tragic deaths, and aims to provide training and raise awareness around investigative standards, victim support, and justice.

The charity also plans to use specialist officers with expertise tailored to each case in an effort to bring peace of mind and clarity to families.

Mr Brannigan said that families are already getting in touch.

"There's two being sent to me at the moment as we speak. And the shocking thing about these families that I am trying to help – they were put to me by police officers who felt they could not go internally to get the answers for these families," Mr Brannigan said.

"This Trust is here to listen when so many have not."

"It is here to ask the hard questions, when others will not," he said.

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

On Friday, some members of Katie Simpson's family attended the official launch of the 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: "Already only a day in and people are reaching out - it goes to show you already what the charity is about.

"It's so sad that there is a demand for it but now people will have an avenue to go down and it'll be life-changing for families," Ms 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."

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.

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.