The family of murdered 21-year-old showjumper Katie Simpson must be "at the very heart" of a review into the handling of the Jonathan Creswell case.
The trial of Jonathan Creswell, 36, for the murder of Ms Simpson, ended in April last year after his sudden death. The showjumper, 21, from Tynan, Co Armagh, died in Altnagelvin hospital in Derry almost a week after an incident in Gortnessy Meadows, Lettershandoney, in Co Derry, on August 3 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 murder. Creswell had previously been jailed after being convicted of assaulting a former partner in 2009.
Read more: Handling of Jonathan Cresswell case to be subject of review, Minister announces
It has since emerged that Creswell was not subject to a risk management plan at the time of Ms Simpson’s death. Justice minister Naomi Long announced last month she is commissioning a review to establish whether opportunities were missed to refer Creswell into the Public Protection Arrangements Northern Ireland (PPANI).
The Minister revealed at Stormont this week that terms of reference for the review have now been drafted, and shared with various authorities including the PSNI chief Jon Boutcher, the Probation Board and the chief executive of the Western Trust.
She also revealed a "prospective independent reviewer" has also been identified.
Mrs Long also stressed that the family of Katie Simpson must be "at the very heart of the review".
Updating the Assembly on the review during Minister's question time on Monday, she said: "Members will be aware that, on 13 January, I committed to a bespoke review of the Jonathan Creswell case. It is vital that we understand and learn from the case in terms of both safeguarding victims and managing offenders. I am keen that the review begin as swiftly as possible. To that end, my Department has prepared draft terms of reference for the review.
"I have written to the Chief Constable, the chief executive of the Probation Board for Northern Ireland (PBNI) and the chief executive of the Western Health and Social Care Trust to share and invite comment on the terms of reference and confirm their organisations’ involvement in the review. The Prison Service is also committed to engaging in that exercise. I am reflecting on the feedback received to date.
"In addition, my Department has engaged with a prospective independent reviewer who, I am confident, will take the review forward in a sensitive and comprehensive way. I intend to write to the Justice Committee shortly to confirm the final terms of reference and to provide details of the reviewer."
Foyle MLA Mark Durkan, responding, said: "I thank the Minister for her commitment to carrying out a review of that horrific case and the horrendous handling of it. Will the Minister commit that the review will also engage with those most hurt by the case, be they relatives of the victim or others who suffered from the fallout?"
Mrs Long said: "It is hugely important that we engage with the family. We have been doing that when looking at the terms of reference for the review and at how we intend to move forward with that. It is important that Katie's family are at the very heart of the review. They feel that their questions have not yet been answered and, indeed, that more questions have arisen than answers provided. I want the independent reviewer to be in a position to engage with Katie's family as a priority as the work commences."
For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.
English (United States) ·