The city of Creswell announced four finalists to be the next city manager The city will host a "meet and greet" with the candidates at 5 p.m on May 12 at the Creswell Community Center The City Council will also interview the candidates on May 12 and 13 during a closed session Creswell's mayor and City Council are then scheduled to announce the new city manager's appointment at a public meeting on May 13 Alan Torres covers local government for the Register-Guard. He can be reached byemail at atorres@registerguard.com, on X @alanfryetorres or on Reddit at u/AlfrytRG. Another PSNI officer has retired while under investigation into the Jonathan Creswell case, pushing the total who have quit to five. While confirming the latest retirement, which came just weeks after two other officers did likewise, the PSNI did not answer all enquiries put to them. The conduct of numerous officers is under scrutiny. A Police Ombudsman report into the death of showjumper Katie Simpson found that the police investigation was flawed. It said there had been “a general lack of investigative mindset”, which led to her death in 2020 being treated as suicide for several months. Creswell was later charged with her murder. He was found dead at home when standing trial in April last year. Last month, the PSNI confirmed two officers had retired while under investigation into the handling of the Creswell case. The PSNI was asked how many officers have retired or applied to retire while under investigation and of these how many were/are on sick-leave? It was also asked how many are suspended, have been removed from previous duties or are on sick-leave, since notified of investigation. A PSNI spokesperson confirmed three officers have now retired and none have been suspended or repositioned. No respond to the other enquiries had been received at the time publishing. Facebook pageTwitter feedRSS feed@2025 The Irish News Ltd Creswell Crags invites visitors of all ages to discover its latest exhibition 150 Years of Excavations at Creswell Crags This new display is curated by Dr Angharad Jones and marks a century and a half of remarkable archaeological discoveries in the caves and gorge of this world-renowned heritage site From Victorian fossil-hunters to climate change research the exhibition charts the story of human creativity resilience and scientific curiosity through the ages also gives a behind-the-scenes look at the museum’s incredible collection Staff members share their favourite finds and what they reveal about the people and animals who once called these caves home With thousands of artefacts to choose from spanning over 100,000 years — including Stone Age flint tools and a 40,000-year-old woolly rhinoceros tooth — this is a rare opportunity to see the team’s favourite objects that help us understand how our ancestors survived and thrived in a changing world Whether you’re a family looking for a fascinating day out or a history buff planning a mini-adventure Visitors can explore the exhibition alongside the permanent displays gorge walks and a café surrounded by nature Dates: Easter holidays 2025 until further notice Location: Creswell Crags Near Worksop S80 3LH Admission to the new 150 Years of Excavations at Creswell Crags exhibition is completely free as are self-guided walks through the stunning limestone gorge and wildflower meadow The charity that looks after this unique site charges only for parking the permanent exhibition and for guided cave tours which offer a fascinating glimpse into Ice Age life picnic and play area — making Creswell Crags a brilliant day out for all ages For more information and to plan your visit Back to the News page This year's event is FREE and open to all - so join us on Zoom on Mon 6 July to hear from @VisitBritain Nottingham Culture Board and @NorthstarMtgs We are so excited to hear this fantastic news from @CreswellCrags A huge thank you to @HeritageFundUK for supporting this valuable and much-loved heritage site. ?Calling all #hospitality and #tourism businesses and organisations! We're thrilled to announce that our FREE Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Virtual Visitor Economy Summit will be held on Monday 6 July Yesterday's government announcement has been welcomed by hotels many of which will be opening their doors on Saturday 4th July ?This summer looks likely to be all about the great British break and for those after some staycation inspiration #Nottinghamshire has plenty of unusual places to stay @Langarhallhotel @YeOldeBell @forestholidays @LaceMarketApmts Pop in and see @MeetInNotts at stand 17 and learn why #Nottingham should be your number one destination for #conferences .@MeetInNotts are 'jubilant' after successfully tapping into the North American ? conferences market at @VisitBritain's innovative #MeetGB Virtual and are now setting their sights on Europe ? Read more ?https://t.co/8OZ9HqAkCF https://t.co/EwnQzSYWxR ???Want to be in with a chance of winning a @delilahfinefood hamper worth over £60 Simply complete our tourism survey by 5pm today and tell us how you'd feel about visiting #Nottingham and #Nottinghamshire post COVID-19 https://t.co/5xZqO6xtsH https://t.co/BhIL7teYO6 We ♥️ this feature in @TheFoxyDeer Metroland magazine "Nottinghamshire’s Sherwood Forest is a landmark thousands of years in the making history and folklore all waiting to be discovered." Read the feature on p.128 ?https://t.co/Cbh70ePNpo https://t.co/rAUJHlsZy7 .@MeetInNotts are excited to be in the virtual booth ready for @VisitBritain's digital #MeetGB event today where the team will be showcasing #Nottingham's fantastic event and conference spaces to an international audience https://t.co/9h1SUEWcqn https://t.co/I6pqyQhIyQ The @ace_national has today announced that £3.26 million has been awarded to 466 individual artists and cultural organisations across the #EastMidlands through its COVID-19 emergency response package Calling all #Nottingham and #Nottinghamshire #tourism businesses - why not check out @VisitEnglandBiz' #BusinessAdviceHub for the latest guidance and support for tourism businesses during COVID-19 https://t.co/tMwnMvL8IY https://t.co/592XpXMkKl Want to be in with a chance of winning a @delilahfinefood hamper worth over £60 Simply complete our tourism survey and tell us how you'd feel about visiting #Nottingham and #Nottinghamshire post COVID-19 https://t.co/5xZqO6xtsH https://t.co/FK7ZNCGJRL #Nottingham #tourism businesses - did you know you can find the latest guidance and support for tourism businesses during COVID-19 on @VisitEnglandBiz’s #BusinessAdviceHub Copyright © 2025 Marketing Nottingham Another PSNI officer has retired while under investigation into the mishandling of the Jonathan Creswell case bringing the total who have retired up to five Police have confirmed the latest retirement which came just weeks after two other officers did likewise They are among a number of officers whose conduct is under scrutiny for how they dealt with Creswell who came close to getting away with the murder of young showjumper Katie Simpson Her death in August 2020 was initially treated as a suicide despite the PSNI being told of Creswell’s past convictions Creswell claimed he rescued Katie – younger sister of his partner Christina Simpson – from a suicide attempt into her own car and setting off to hospital He had in fact strangled Katie then staged a scene making it appear she had taken her own life The PSNI believed Creswell’s false account despite others coming forward to tell officers about his violent and abusive history The full facts of what really happened remain unknown and hopes of establishing them were dashed when Creswell took his own life 24 hours into his murder trial in April last year Despite the PSNI being informed about Creswell’s propensity for violence and abuse there was “a general lack of investigative mindset” according to a later Police Ombudsman probe The report criticised the PSNI for assuming Ms Simpson’s injuries were self inflicted despite "multiple reports from members of the public" that she had been the victim of controlling and coercive behaviour by Creswell it would be November 2024 before the details were partially made known Much remains withheld as three new complaints were submitted after the trial concluded and there is some overlap One complaint relates to an officer from the original investigation which the Police Ombudsman has stated “may potentially involve criminal misconduct” Another refers to several officers in the second investigation and centres on failure of duty was initially closed last year but has since been reopened after information disputing both the PSNI position and the Police Ombudsman’s original findings emerged Last month the PSNI confirmed two officers had retired while under investigation over the new complaints coupled with two from the original complaint PSNI officers become eligible for retirement once they reach a set minimum age or complete the required years of service in line with the rules of their pension scheme PSNI officers under investigation for serious wrongdoing can retire before the probes are completed the only circumstance where a PSNI officer or staff member can be prevented from retiring while under investigation is if they are already suspended The PSNI was asked how many officers have retired or applied to retire while under investigation and of these how many were or are on sick leave They were also asked how many are suspended have been removed from previous duties or are on sick-leave A spokesperson has now confirmed that three officers have retired while under investigation for the new complaints and none have been suspended or repositioned The PSNI is yet to provide a response on the remaining enquiries at the time of publishing Receive today's headlines directly to your inbox every morning and evening Please check your inbox to verify your details Alliance Policing Board member Nuala McAllister MLA has said she is glad to see the urgent need to review potential failures in the Jonathan Creswell case taken seriously She was speaking after Justice Minister Naomi Long confirmed Creswell who was charged with the murder of Katie Simpson and later killed himself did not come into contact with Public Protection Arrangements NI (PPANI) at the time of Katie’s murder and so a Serious Case Review is unable to occur The confirmation came in a response from the Minister to Ms McAllister The Minister has also provided her support for a specific review into the Creswell case alongside commissioning a review of robustness and operation of PPANI’s referral mechanisms “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 I am glad the urgent need to review potential failures was taken seriously,” said Ms McAllister “Creswell had a violent history and a criminal record which reflected this I have seen evidence which shows opportunities were missed from the PSNI particularly around an additional victim prior to Katie’s murder where PPANI arrangements should have been in place to manage this violent offender “I will continue to use my position on the Policing Board to seek clarity and accountability for these failings on behalf of Katie Simpson and all victims of violence against women and girls." Headquarters: 7 Farmley RoadNewtownabbey, BT36 7TYTel: 028 9032 4274 Email: [email protected] Published and promoted by Alliance HQ Declared Donations Website Information Privacy Latest News News Archive Safeguarding Children Policy Safeguarding Adults Policy Join Us Membership Renewal Donate Volunteer Register to Vote Leadership Our MLAs Our MP Our Councillors Work For Us Our History Our Vision Our Policies Political Broadcasts Contact Us Built with Nationbuilder | Made by Tectonica potentially alienating those that work in or visit a sacred space’ I am not sure that this role really existed before. It’s been created to bring to the cathedrals of England an approach to installing art that’s respectful and sensitive to each environment and creates a narrative between the exhibited work and the cathedral Cathedrals aren’t exhibition spaces for decorative art — they’re sacred spaces that can be used to communicate wider thoughts and ideas I’ve worked in a number of mediums — paper but I’ve also made a number of more abstract pieces I can still be persuaded to draw when I find the time but curating plays to my almost insatiable appetite for new ideas the stimulation of working with artists in a given context working with extraordinary people and cathedrals’ bureaucracy — sometimes wonderful sometimes challenging — but I don’t think anything worth doing today is easy I worked as the curator at Salisbury Cathedral where I pioneered the first rolling art programme working with more than 60 artists to integrate their work with the cathedral’s community and liturgy It was experimental and it drew countless visitors to visit the cathedral and to see it in a new light When Salisbury was afflicted by the Novichok attack, the city went into shock; parts of the city were quarantined, there were countless police and forensic investigators in white hazmat suits. I was working with Michael Pendry at the time, and he created this extraordinary flock of doves suspended in the cathedral nave (News, 11 May 2018) People came from all over the city to create a dove This simple but beautiful installation displayed hope but at work I have to set that aside and consider the widest possible arena of art My challenge always is to identify art that works in the context of a particular place I’ve built a particularly close relationship with some artists based on respect and trust built up over years their career; so I have to balance the needs of the cathedral with the needs of the artist It’s always immensely rewarding when an artist I’ve followed gets in touch because they’ve seen my work Curating within the bounds of a cathedral requires painstaking attention Nothing can interfere with the fabric of the building; so each exhibition is researched potentially alienating those that work in or visit a sacred space That’s not to say some works won’t cause some adverse comment an installation is successful because it stirs comment That’s the opportunity to engage with people and often the most productive conversations follow Wells Arts Contemporary is an international open art competition that’s run every year since 2012. I’ve been a selector of art for the installations programme at Wells Cathedral since 2022 I assisted with curating their 2023/24 exhibitions to encourage best practice and train a team to continue to deliver exhibitions of a high standard The “Black Mountain Project: Vessels” is a unique exhibition by Art + Christianity in collaboration with Friends of Friendless Churches It’s an art trail and pilgrimage to seven ancient rural churches in the Black Mountains which hold treasures of outstanding visual culture intimate churches engaged me at a very personal level with evidence of the history of entire families from birth Our aim is to place a single work of art that represents a vessel within each of these ancient churches The polysemic nature of vessels highlights the rich versatility of the term and provides a rich medium for creative expression and the exploration of various concepts related to containment Welcoming well-behaved dogs to cathedrals is a winning idea a vessel often depicts the human body or soul as a container for the Holy Spirit Christians are called to be vessels of God’s love Vessels are used in Christian worship — for example Vessels also have a wider connotation in the biology of living forms as transporters of vital fluids and nourishment This art trail pilgrimage brings all these elements together My first proper project with English cathedrals will be installing “Crossing” in Canterbury in October Magnificent boats — incredibly beautiful and fragile made from wood from forest floors and beaches — inviting local communities in to think about their spiritual journeys in the context of this grand cathedral in Kent Churches have employed the visual arts for centuries to celebrate their faith and communicate its truth and beauty Art can also be a medium for discussing and exploring that faith by providing a catalyst for people who are otherwise outside the formal structures of belief or belonging to join in It’s a doorway through which anyone can pass and discover what’s on the other side Parish churches can gain so much from exploring what contemporary art can offer their communities Art can be used to advance or better interpret their missions and bring their communities closer together Cathedrals provide an inspirational spiritual and architectural environment for their permanent art collections and temporary installations, for liturgy and meditation. Sarah Mullally said: “ Art can often speak where words fail.” One of the most interesting projects we worked together on was at Erlestoke Prison looking at human rights and justice from the angle of people who’d forfeited some of their rights because of what they’d done You get more out of these projects than you put in and I certainly put a great deal into that I try to view life through other people’s perspectives and share that with people who find that process more difficult I have faith. My father was a cantor in the synagogue in Cape Town, and his best friend, Chota Motala, who was Indian Muslim They always believed that we are created by God and they always looked for those aspects of our lives that unite us and my children were brought up in both religions His voice is both a reassuring and sometimes hauntingly emotional sound I also love the sound of waves crashing on my favourite beach near Cape Town where I grew up during the years when apartheid was overturned and those that are unwilling to engage in fair debate I’m blessed with children who have an amazing work ethic and who’ve developed their own mission to be meaningful contributors to this very confusing world They know how important it is to give back I taught my children the Shema Yisrael prayer when they were tiny We’d say it together every night before bed I guess if I was locked in Salisbury Cathedral a conversation with the master mason who built it would be interesting How did ordinary people come together to create something so extraordinary I’d like to understand what it is about human beings and faith that can inspire such extraordinary creativity Jacquiline Creswell was talking to Terence Handley MacMath Nicholas Reed Langen examines the Supreme Court ruling on gender Read reports from issues stretching back to 1863 search for your parish or see if any of the clergy you know get a mention Explore the archive We are a partnership of six diverse and welcoming congregations in the northern districts of Milton Keynes offering a rich tapestry of worshipping traditions – Anglican USPG is looking to appoint 3 Trustees (lay or ordained) committed to global mission within the Anglican Communion The Diocese of Gloucester is looking for a practical team member to join the Department of Mission and Ministry who brings a creative and flexible approach as we seek to develop and implement innovative approaches to collaborative ministry across the Diocese The Bishop of Lincoln seeks an ordained colleague to lead in vocational discernment within the Diocese The Diocese of London is delighted to welcome applications for the position of Area Director of Ministry (Willesden) and Diocesan Clergy Wellbeing Adviser Non-subscribers can read four articles for free each month Bones found at the site are helping scientists to understand the diet of wolves and how they differ over time Located on the border of Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire, Creswell Crags is an enclosed limestone gorge surrounded by woodland It has many caves and fissures containing prehistoric fossils and artefacts and is an area of interest to many scientific communities The Victorians first discovered ancient artefacts in the cave sediments in the 19th century and scholars have been excavating the caves to answer pressing palaeontological and archaeological questions and recreating fascinating stories of life during the last ice age between 50 000 and 11 700 years before present (BP).  The objects excavated from the caves at Creswell Crags and from the wider Creswell Heritage Area are stored in the Creswell Crags Museum which holds a collection of nearly 40 000 objects approximately 80 per cent of which are bones The palaeontological collection is composed of subfossils that date back to the late Pleistocene (125 000 BP) and include the remains of a large range of mammal In addition to being used for exhibition display the fossils from Creswell Crags Museum’s collections are used for research purposes BGS is currently collaborating on one such research project with Prof Danielle Schreve at Royal Holloway The project is investigating past and present diets of European wolves.  Wolves are one of the northern hemisphere’s top predators keeping populations of their prey in check and positively influencing overall biodiversity through their activities the wolf (Canis lupis) is an endangered species in Europe and concerns exist as to the viability of European wolf populations as environmental and climate conditions change The overarching aim of the ‘Nature of the beast’ project is to assess the effect of forcing factors such as changes in climate the prey community and carnivore competition on the feeding behaviours of wolves.  A wolf in the Wolfsforschungszentrum (Wolf Research Centre) in the Ernstbrunn Wildlife Park One of the best ways to investigate the adaptability of any animal is through the study of their dietary behaviour Diet is closely linked to climate and environment which determine the available prey species and which predators are competing for resources on those same landscapes This project employs a multi-proxy approach that combines dental microwear texture analysis cranio-dental morphology and analysis of scat to reconstruct wolf diets from the late Pleistocene and throughout the Holocene (the current warm period).  Dental microwear textural analysis (DMTA) is a way of investigating features on the biting surface of teeth DMTA uses three-dimensional technology to image the tooth surface which can be measured with specialised software in an unbiased way that is independent of human observer errors tooth surface features can show the extent to which carnivores are consuming meat or processing carcasses more fully assessing the flesh-to-bone ratio of their diets.   Process of dental microwear texture analysis BGS © UKRI based on an original image © Amanda Burtt One way to think about how we analyse dental microwear is to consider animals that populate the extremes of the carnivore dietary behaviour continuum today the spotted hyena consumes a lot of bone as part of its natural behaviour; on the other hand the cheetah primarily consumes flesh and prefer fresh kills Wolves fall on this spectrum somewhere between hyenas and cheetahs and are known to flex their diet according to their surroundings. Observations from modern wolves have shown that they do consume some bone and prefer greasy Dental microwear studies of modern and ancient wolves confirm this dietary behaviour Dr Amanda Burtt taking a tooth mould for DMTA when unable to access their preferred prey species (likely due to limited prey availability in their surroundings) wolves scavenge more intensively resulting in dental textures that indicate elevated amounts of bone in their diet Scavenging is part of the flexible dietary behaviour of wolves which is reflected in their dental microwear and can inform our understanding of past environmental conditions such as the size and availability of prey species.   A key goal of this research is to understand how wolves have adapted to changing circumstances in the past so that current and future conservation policy can be appropriately tailored the dental microwear of wolves indicates high flesh consumption wolves increased scavenging behaviour (consuming more bone).  Creswell Crags Museum’s collections hold fossil bones of wolves dating back 40 000 years Some of these fossils were discovered due to a rock fall near the Dog Hole cave in 1978 along with bones of a diverse range of other animals including lynx They have since been used to provide evidence of a complex sequence of prehistoric animal occupation within the area.  Three individual wolves have been analysed for dental microwear and represent one glacial and one interglacial period The results from Creswell Crags will be combined with data collected from other museum fossils across the UK and spanning the entirety of the late Pleistocene to the Holocene.   Dr Angharad Jones (Creswell Crags Museum and Heritage Centre)  Geology doesn’t stop at international borders so BGS is working with neighbouring geological surveys and research institutes to solve common problems with the geology they share Dr Charlotte Hipkiss and Kotryna Savickaite explore the importance of standard analysis when testing carbon and oxygen samples Chris Bengt visited Rutland Water as part of a project to determine human impact and environmental change in lake sediments commissioned by Historic Environment Scotland reveals an opportunity to re-establish the Scottish building stone market in order to maintain the country’s historic buildings New ‘hydrological hub’ to foster research and provide essential national water management datasets and tools BGS will take a leading role in efforts to better predict the location and effects of extreme weather events Aspiring astrophysicist Riveen Pehesara Kumanayaka shares his experience following an A-level work placement with BGS BGS’s Andrew Smith explores the karstic depressions of northern Spain in the quest to create a palaeothermometer The agricultural and distilling sectors could face significant challenges after research finds the number of droughts in Scotland may double in the next 25 years BGS GeoCoast data can support researchers and practitioners facing coastal erosion adaptation challenges along our coastline New research has combined zooarchaeology and ancient and modern biomolecular datasets to reveal a new understanding of the history and projections of fallow deer Prof Paul Monks CB will step into the role later this .. More than 70 mineral commodities have been captured in .. BGS will be attending the European Geosciences Union’s .. The Isle of Arran has officially been named as the .. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We’ll assume you’re okay with this, but you can opt out if you wish. More information Keep up to date with all the latest research Texas (KVII) — When you work in law enforcement On Friday at the campus of Perryton High School in Ochiltree County a ceremony was held for Oklahoma Highway Patrolman Cody Creswell as Friday was declared Cody Creswell Day for the City of Perryton I love being from the Texas Panhandle,” said Cody Creswell ”A lot of people are like you’re from the Panhandle his family is from here and I just felt it was appropriate to do a proclamation to have a day named after him,” said Kerry Symons Cody Creswell with the Oklahoma Highway Patrol was honored and recognized for going above the call of duty in July of 2024 helping to reunite a young boy whom he believed was being trafficked and return him to family members in New York “If the tables were turned or you put the boots on another person I would want that person to drive my child through the night and get him home to me,” said Creswell “I have enough respect and honor that if you make a promise to a child that you keep it we would get him home to his dad and that’s what we did.” Cody Creswell was joined by a couple of state troopers from OHP as they talked to Peryton High School students about risk and consequences and always remember what one does in life echoes into eternity They talked about the importance of always making good decisions and saying no to drugs and alcohol They also reiterated the importance of wearing a seatbelt while inside a vehicle the trio of OHP members visited students at other schools in Perryton I CERTAINLY expected Creswell Crags to be pretty But the big surprise is that this beauty spot on the Derbyshire-Nottinghamshire border is also pretty important this spot was essentially the edge of the world bumpy walls rise up either side of Millbrook looking like they’ve been made from grey Lego bricks And what has been found inside them is pretty extraordinary Before arriving at the gorge itself, the Creswell Crags visitor centre explains a rich history All of the bones and fossils on display have been found in the caves and arctic fox’s jaw and hyena droppings filled with the bones of other animals The animal bones aren’t the only record of the past in these caves, though. Rock art made with stones tools and painted with yellow Several engravings from the Ice Age have been found within Creswell Crags. Dating techniques show the flowstone that has grown over some of the art to be around 12,800 years old, meaning it has been there for longer. This is believed to be the furthest north Ice Age cave art found in Europe. There is evidence people may have ventured into what is now Yorkshire but the existence of cave art shows Creswell Crags was liveable For the people who sheltered in these caves, this was the end of the earth taking in the museum section then taking a pleasant stroll along the gorge In the meadow on the way, there are wooden carvings of the animals that have been discovered in the caves Most of the rock art is inside Church Hole This is the biggest of the 24 caves at Creswell Crags and the one with the most varied story to tell The first people who stayed here 13,000 to 50,000 years ago, and the Neanderthals before them, didn’t go far into the cave This was partly practical – they didn’t have the head torches we have now But it was mainly about what did venture further inside A bear skeleton has been in the inner chambers as well as evidence lions liked to hang out there The guide shows how the people who called the cave home would have made tools and sinews from animals were used to tie things together It is sharper than modern hospital instruments it doesn’t naturally occur in this limestone The best explanation is that it is from the chalk belt running through East Anglia and the people of Creswell Crags either brought it with them or traded for it Robin Hood Cave was largely excavated in the 19th century when it was an archaeological treasure chest The guide points to fragments of bone in the cave wall that have been left in place There’s also a mysterious triangle shape engraved on the wall of Robin Hood Cave. The gorgeous gorge outside may have inspired many paintings, but this triangle is part of Britain’s oldest art collection These are more than just caves – they are windows into the past STAYING THERE: The 4H Wildes Inns is a three-mile drive from Creswell Crags. Rooms from £69 per night. See wildesinns.co.uk OUT & ABOUT: Entrance to Creswell Crags costs £3 for adults The Life in the Ice Age tour to Robin Hood Cave costs £15 for adults and £10 for children. See creswell-crags.org.uk Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click this link: thesun.co.uk/editorial-complaints/ 2025 at 1:43pm GMTJustice Minister Naomi Long has ordered a review into how Jonathan Creswell managed to avoid being scrutinised by any state agency despite a serious domestic abuse conviction Creswell killed himself in April following the first day of his trial for the rape and murder of showjumper Katie Simpson who spent six months in prison for abusing his former partner and later was investigated for sexually assaulting another young woman and stood trial accused of the murder of 21-year-old Ms Simpson in August 2020 Creswell did not come under the public protection arrangements Northern Ireland (PPANI) which brings different agencies “to assess and manage the risk posed by certain sexual and violent offenders” The family of Ms Simpson welcomed the announcement of the review A serious case review cannot be carried as this only happens when an individual is being managed through the public protection arrangements and carries out another serious sexual or violent offence “As Jonathan Creswell was not being managed under PPANI at the time of Katie Simpson’s murder such a review would be speculative and beyond the scope of a meaningful SCR,” Ms Long said Katie Simpson: Three separate complaints to police after the dying young woman was admitted to hospitalMother of Katie Simpson joins rally in Derry opposing violence against womenThe minister added: “However, I recognise 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. “I am also committed to a specific review of the Creswell case. 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. “The review will also consider those points which have been raised in correspondence to my department and to the PPANI co-ordinator. “The full terms of reference are being finalised and it is my intention to appoint an independent reviewer to undertake this work.” Policing Board member Nuala McAllister welcomed the review into potential failures in the Creswell case. The Alliance MLA said: “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. I am glad the urgent need to review potential failures was taken seriously. Ms McAllister added: “Creswell had a violent history and a criminal record which reflected this. “I have seen evidence which shows opportunities were missed from the PSNI, particularly around an additional victim prior to Katie’s murder, where PPANI arrangements should have been in place to manage this violent offender. “I will continue to use my position on the Policing Board to seek clarity and accountability for these failings on behalf of Katie Simpson, and all victims of violence against women and girls.” Ms Long has also asked lay advisers appointed to oversee and monitor PPANI “to review the general robustness and operation of the referral process”. Michael Clements, a solicitor for the family of Katie Simpson, said the review is “strongly welcome”. “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,” Mr Clements, of KRW Law, said on behalf of the family. “There is an important duty on the relevant public bodies to properly risk manage persons with violent convictions like that of Mr Creswell, while they are in the community, in order to safeguard people they are in contact with. “We hope that this review can provide some much-needed clarity for the family of Ms Simpson as to why someone with Mr Creswell’s criminal history was not referred to the Public Protection Arrangements Northern Ireland (PPANI), and that lessons are learned moving forward. “Violence against women has become a consistent and systemic issue in this jurisdiction and therefore preventative steps, such as proper risk management, must be a priority when dealing with those convicted of violent crimes.” Abdullah SabriFri 21 Feb 2025 at 14:03A former chief executive of the NI Women’s Aid Federation will head up a probe into the case of Jonathan Creswell who died while on trial for the murder of a young showjumper Justice minister Naomi Long published the terms of reference for an independent review of the Katie Simpson case She confirmed Jan Melia would take the lead in probing why the accused was not the subject of a risk management plan by the police or other agencies who is also the Domestic Homicide Review chair has more than three decades of experience working with victims and survivors of abuse in England Scotland and across the island of the Ireland Mrs Long said her thoughts were “very much with the family of Katie Simpson all of Jonathan Creswell’s victims” as she revealed details of the review we cannot turn back the hands of time but what we can do is learn lessons from the past so that they are not repeated in the future,” she said “Katie’s family will very much be at the centre of this review which is not about apportioning blame to any organisation but constructive engagement and a learning-based approach Katie (21) died in hospital six days after an incident at a Co Londonderry property in 2020 Creswell was charged with Ms Simpson’s rape and murder a year later but took his own life one day into the trial who was in a relationship with Ms Simpson’s sister Christina initially led the PSNI to believe he found the showjumper trying to kill herself some officers and members of the public pointed to Creswell’s violent past after he was jailed in 2010 for the assault of his ex-partner A report by the Police Ombudsman into the handling of Ms Simpson’s death later found the investigation was “flawed and failed her family” It also concluded that no thorough searches or forensic examinations were conducted despite police being aware of Creswell’s previous convictions in the early stages of the investigation PSNI Chief Constable Jon Boutcher later said it was “abundantly clear we got things wrong from the beginning” and “huge lessons” would be learned from the case Mrs Long has sought the full support of the PSNI Prison Service and the Western Health and Social Care Trust for the review Alliance MLA Nuala McAllister welcomed probe “My thoughts today are with Katie’s family and loved ones Having been denied justice during the trial I hope this news can bring them another step closer to some form of justice for Katie,” she said “I have been highlighting the serious failings from numerous organisations in relation to Jonathan Creswell for a number of years and I am glad this review will look at the organisations involved will be able to uncover failings so lessons can be learned and mistakes not made in the future “I will continue to use my position to seek clarity and accountability for any failings on behalf of Katie Simpson and all victims of violence against women and girls.” For the next instalment of our Career Champions campaign, we spoke with Paul Kaye, Head of Operations at Creswell Crags about his journey which began with a fascination of in-game building and led him to work at an extraordinary archaeological park in Nottinghamshire “I used to love playing Theme Park on my Sega Megadrive as a child and later Rollercoaster Tycoon on my PC I found it so satisfying turning a blank space into something visually pleasing and something that the ‘peeps’ could enjoy and so create healthy profits to win the game It’s for this reason I knew I wanted to study tourism at university The course I chose was Hospitality Management and Tourism at Sheffield Hallam This course allowed me to study the subject and also gave me the opportunity to work at a theme park in the USA for a couple of seasons in 2003 and 2004 After returning home and finishing my last year at university I applied for a job at my nearest theme park Gulliver’s Kingdom in Matlock Bath and ended up working there for nearly 10 years how the weather can affect visitor numbers and ride availability After nearly 10 years it was time for a new challenge and Creswell Crags on the fringes of Nottinghamshire I was able to transfer many of the skills I picked up at Gulliver’s whilst still respecting the calmer nature of the site and its heritage” including your day-to-day responsibilities I run all aspects of catering and retail and together with other key team members look after operations and health and safety too This can involve anything from risk assessments and site security to choosing new lines for the gift shop and changing the café menu We offer cave tours to the public and school children the site has a pleasant café and gift shop holds special events throughout the year along with many smaller attractions such as a play area What aspects of your current role do you find the most rewarding it is really rewarding to know that profits made from the trading arm of the organisation go back into supporting the charitable aims of the Creswell Heritage Trust Even though I have now worked in tourism for over two decades seeing visitor’s happy expressions as they leave never gets old educated them about the Ice Age and in doing so made some profit to put back into the organisation What advice would you give to someone aspiring to join the industry “Working in the hospitality and tourism industry physically and mentally and you cannot be afraid of change Visitor’s needs and expectations are always changing and so you must change with them the Corkscrew roller coaster at Alton Towers was one of the most intense experiences in the country now look at modern day roller coasters and compare the two” what makes hospitality and tourism an exciting career path “The skills that you learn are transferrable to almost every other industry They will help you in life not just at work even working on the other side of the world and meeting some amazing people like I did” What are your goals and aspirations for the future “At the moment we have an exciting opportunity at the Crags to deliver a more immersive and profitable visitor experience which I am working on The Ice Age is such an interesting period of our history and it can create many exciting ways to engage with our audience and give them unforgettable experiences that they will never forget” What advice would you give to anyone starting out in the industry See what the visitors see and hear what they hear I would also encourage you to visit as many other attractions as you can and be inspired especially at the beginning of your career as there’s a whole world out there waiting to be explored and spending time in other places and amongst other communities will equip you with a wider knowledge of the industry and how it works” Paul has had a fantastic journey through the industry and we’re grateful to him for sharing his experience and insights on what it takes to achieve success in the world of hospitality If you or someone you know works within the hospitality industry and would like to talk to us about their journey, then get in touch with our team by emailing georgia.cowdrey@visit-nottinghamshire.co.uk We are proud to be working alongside Futures on this campaign and employment support to those looking to get a head start in their chosen industry or make their next career move To get in touch with the team at futures, please email hello@futuresadvice.org or visit www.futuresadvice.org to find out more Registration is now open for @VisitNotts? Virtual Visitor Economy Summit. This year's event is FREE and open to all - so join us on Zoom on Mon 6 July to hear from @VisitBritain, @NottmCastle, Nottingham Culture Board and @NorthstarMtgs. ? We are so excited to hear this fantastic news from @CreswellCrags! A huge thank you to @HeritageFundUK for supporting this valuable and much-loved heritage site.? https://t.co/iksHXE68Zv ?Calling all #hospitality and #tourism businesses and organisations!? We're thrilled to announce that our FREE Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Virtual Visitor Economy Summit will be held on Monday 6 July, 11am - 12:30pm on Zoom. Stay tuned for more info! https://t.co/rk7XDZgjsl Yesterday's government announcement has been welcomed by hotels, restaurants and pubs across #Nottingham, many of which will be opening their doors on Saturday 4th July. ?This summer looks likely to be all about the great British break, and for those after some staycation inspiration #Nottinghamshire has plenty of unusual places to stay! Attending #MeetGB Virtual today? Pop in and see @MeetInNotts at stand 17 and learn why #Nottingham should be your number one destination for #conferences. https://t.co/4irwzHZif5 .@MeetInNotts are 'jubilant' after successfully tapping into the North American ?? conferences market at @VisitBritain's innovative #MeetGB Virtual and are now setting their sights on Europe ?? for tomorrow's event. ???Want to be in with a chance of winning a @delilahfinefood hamper worth over £60? Simply complete our tourism survey by 5pm today and tell us how you'd feel about visiting #Nottingham and #Nottinghamshire post COVID-19. Enter here ? https://t.co/5xZqO6xtsH https://t.co/BhIL7teYO6 We ♥️ this feature in @TheFoxyDeer Metroland magazine! "Nottinghamshire’s Sherwood Forest is a landmark thousands of years in the making, with an enchanting world of nature, history and folklore all waiting to be discovered." .@MeetInNotts are excited to be in the virtual booth ready for @VisitBritain's digital #MeetGB event today, where the team will be showcasing #Nottingham's fantastic event and conference spaces to an international audience! Learn more about the event ? https://t.co/9h1SUEWcqn https://t.co/I6pqyQhIyQ The @ace_national has today announced that £3.26 million has been awarded to 466 individual artists and cultural organisations across the #EastMidlands, including @NottmCityOfLit, through its COVID-19 emergency response package. Calling all #Nottingham and #Nottinghamshire #tourism businesses - why not check out @VisitEnglandBiz' #BusinessAdviceHub for the latest guidance and support for tourism businesses during COVID-19? Learn more ? https://t.co/tMwnMvL8IY https://t.co/592XpXMkKl Want to be in with a chance of winning a @delilahfinefood hamper worth over £60? Simply complete our tourism survey and tell us how you'd feel about visiting #Nottingham and #Nottinghamshire post COVID-19. Enter here ? https://t.co/5xZqO6xtsH https://t.co/FK7ZNCGJRL #Nottingham #tourism businesses - did you know you can find the latest guidance and support for tourism businesses during COVID-19 on @VisitEnglandBiz’s #BusinessAdviceHub? Copyright © 2025 Marketing Nottingham. PSNI Chief Constable Jon Boutcher has offered to meet the family of murdered show jumper Katie Simpson to discuss changes to policy and practices following the flawed investigation into her 2020 death. The 21-year-old died six days after she was fatally assaulted by former jockey Jonathan Creswell, who killed himself after the first day of his April trial for murder and rape. Chief Constable Boutcher said: “I acknowledge that there were shortcomings in the initial stages of the investigation. I am sorry for this and have offered to meet the family to discuss our response to these issues.” Mr Boutcher said a Police Ombudsman’s investigation had recommended action be taken against several officers “as well as policy changes in recognition of the need to ensure robust investigation from the outset in such circumstances”. “This gives us, and should give the public, confidence that our practices now are more victim-focused. We cannot comment on the outcomes of the misconduct proceedings that have now taken place as they are in law closed proceedings. Lessons have been learnt,” he said. A senior police detective, later seriously injured in a dissident republican gun attack, played a key role in the decision not to initially investigate as a possible murder the death of Ms Simpson. Detective Chief Inspector John Caldwell was the head of the major investigation team tasked with following up initial enquiries after the fatally injured 21-year-old was admitted to Altnagelvin Hospital in Derry in August, 2020. Ms Simpson died six days after being admitted to hospital. Three days later, a post mortem was carried out, with the pathologist concluding it was a “possible hanging” though this was based largely on the word of her killer, Jonathan Creswell. The major investigation team then concluded the death was not suspicious and any further investigation into a potential murder was shut down, this despite warnings to police even before her death. It is now known four separate reports were made to police appealing for them to investigate first an assault and then murder following her death. Medical staff at the hospital also raised red flags as she had injures consistent with being beaten and signs of sexual assault. Police were also aware from an early stage prior to Ms Simpson’s death that Creswell served a six month prison sentence for strangling and threatening a former girlfriend, Abi Lyle, who is representing Ireland in the Paris Olympics. A separate team based in Armagh pushed for months for a murder investigation to be opened but faced opposition from within the PSNI. Over many months, people close to Ms Simpson continued to urge police to treat the death as a possible murder. A full investigation finally began in January the following year and just weeks later 34-year-old Creswell was charged with murder and rape. He took his own life after the first day of his trial in April. In June, three women received suspended sentences after pleading guilty to helping cover up the initial assault. One, Hayley Robb, cleaned the house where the assault took place, while two others, Jill Robinson and Rose de Montmorency-Wright, also helped by washing clothes. In a statement to BBC’s Spotlight, Mr Boutcher said that following an investigation by the Police Ombudsman, misconduct proceedings were under way against some officers but told the programme Det Ch Insp Caldwell was not one of them. Det Ch Insp Caldwell, the chief constable said, “almost gave his life in public service and he and his family have the PSNI’s full support while his recovery continues”. The detective was shot and seriously injured in a 2023 gun attack near Beragh, Co Tyrone, and was later awarded the King’s Police Medal. He added that the challenge of immediately identifying the circumstances of a death where a perpetrator as devious and manipulative as Creswell was involved should not be underestimated. Alliance MLA Nuala McAllister, a Policing Board member, told Spotlight: “I am aware that there was an individual officer who did a lot of work and actually brought it forward to his superior to say: ‘This isn’t right here.’ “He met a lot of resistance, not from his superior but from within the team around the district in which Katie lived and where the death actually occurred,” she said. “There was a police team in the PSNI who just didn’t want to know. I’ve been informed that it was DCI John Caldwell who led that team.” Ms McAllister said: “It has been alleged to me that it was DCI John Caldwell himself who put up the most resistance and acted in the way, I have been told, that was not befitting of a senior ranking officer. “Why fight it? Why argue against it? Where was the harm in investigating it?” Creswell, a former jockey, met Ms Simpson when he began working at a stables near her home in Tynan, Co Armagh. He began to groom her from the age of 10. He also began a relationship with her sister, Christina, and they later had two children. All three, along with the children, lived in a house in Lettershandoney, Co Derry at the time of the fatal assault, which was motivated in part by jealousy after he discovered she was in a relationship with a young man. Spotlight obtained extracts of the actual call between Creswell and the 999 call handler after the assault in the morning of August 3, 2020. Creswell put Ms Simpson in a car and began driving her to hospital despite being told to wait for an ambulance. The call handler told him to stop the car and carry out CPR, which he pretended to do, counting out numbers. However, it is now known at the same time he unlocked her phone before turning it on to airplane mode so it could not be tracked. Ms Simpson did not have the phone by the time she arrived at the hospital, a fact family members questioned. The pair put in a tremendous mistake-free performance for a sixth place group finish in the individual dressage, the pinnacle so far of a remarkable career that began in the immediate aftermath of a terrible nine-month relationship with killer Jonathan Creswell. Ms Lyle (39), originally from Bangor, scored 69.441 in the Dressage Grand Prix at Chateau de Versailles outside Paris, ten years after making her international debut and 15 since surviving the relationship with Creswell. Creswell (36) took his own life in April after the first day of his trial for the murder and rape of young showjumper Katie Simpson. As she prepared for the Olympics, and after Creswell’s death, Ms Lyle spoke publicly about her relationship with Creswell, whom she described as “an incredibly violent and abusive individual”. She told the BBC of being regularly beaten, leaving her body bruised all over and looking “like a Dalmatian”. Creswell served a six month jail sentence in 2010 after pleading guilty to assaulting Ms Lyle. She feared for her life and believed he would kill someone one day. But on Tuesday in Paris, following her routine which is unlikely to see her qualify for the next round, Ms Lyle said: “So here we are but with an amazing ride as well, I can’t even fathom it.” In an interview with Horse and Hound magazine, she said : “I’m going to fall when I go back to the stable. I’ve been emotional for days, it’s been a wild ride of feeling overwhelmed and then excited and then nervous. “But I’ve just been trying to remind myself how lucky I am to have a horse like that. I’ve got these amazing people that have been with me for this whole journey and they’re with me now – I just feel so grateful.” Ms Lyle added: “”Personally, I’ve been trying to protect myself in my own little Olympic bubble because this has been a big struggle for me. It’s been a difficult and stressful run-up and I do get nervous.” The showjumper, who is not from an equine background, first began riding after persuading her parents to buy her a horse when she was 16 after completing her GSCEs. She went to Queen’s University to study English and Film but dropped out to work as a groom in a racing yard. This was when she met Creswell. Following her brave decision to go to the police and end the relationship, Ms Kyle moved to England in 2009 to work and train in an equestrian school. She has trained under former Olympian Carl Hester, who helped her to elevate and compete internationally. Following her 2014 international debut she had to wait and work before making a big breakthrough completing in the World Championships in 2022 with Arty. Three women who pleaded guilty to offences linked to covering up an assault on the 21-year-old showjumper will also be asked whether they want to request being named properly interested persons (PIPs) during the the proceedings it emerged at a pre-inquest review hearing Counsel for the coroner’s office said Creswell’s next of kin may well want to make representations as there is “highly likely to be some criticism of his role” in her death The PSN is also a potentially interested person or party while Coroner Joe McCrisken said the Western Health and Social Care Trust and the BBC should be written to and asked for relevant material Mr McCrisken said there may be issues in relation to BBC journalistic sources but added: “I think we should at least make that request.” BBC broadcast a Spotlight programme on Ms Simpson’s death and the police investigation six days after she was brought unconscious and barely breathing to Altnagelvin Hospital in Derry The murder investigation only began many months later after which Creswell was charged with Ms Simpson’s murder and rape. He took his own life after the first day of his April trial. He was 36. In June, Hayley Robb pleaded guilty to information and perverting the course of justice, Jill Robinson to perverting the course of justice and Rose De Montmorency-Wright to a single count of withholding information. They all received suspended sentences. The police have been asked to deliver all unredacted documents in connection with the case within the next four weeks, which the court heard is likely to be made up of mostly of files related to the criminal case. Phillip Henry KC. for the coroner, noted the PSNI are likely interested parties as “there was some criticism in the press about the nature of the investigation”. Mr McCrisken noted the purpose of an inquest is to determine the who, what, why and how of a death and not to “analyse or critique” a police investigation. However, Mr McCrisken added he had not yet made a final decision on whether the inquest will proceed officially under Article 2 of the European Convention of Human Rights, which would mean a wider probe into the circumstances of the death. He also said the proceedings will be Article 2 compliant, suggesting a broader investigation. Several members of Ms Simpson’s family, including mother Noeleen, and friends, attended this first hearing of the inquest. The hearing was adjourned until November 12. This is the neglected grave of evil killer and rapist Jonathan Creswell Creswell killed himself in April rather than face justice for the horrific murder of 21-year-old Katie Simpson in 2020 He had tried to disguise Katie’s death as suicide but his sick lie was eventually found out and a murder trial began on April 23 He was buried a few days later at a cemetery in Derry While the surrounding graves of others who died recently are adorned with flowers and crosses carrying the name of the deceased there is nothing on Creswell’s grave to indicate he is buried there The plot is overgrown with grass and weeds it is hardly surprising there are few people mourning the former horse trainer’s death a talented showjumper originally from Tynan in Co Armagh and Creswell and Christina’s two young children in a house at Gortnessy Meadows on the outskirts of Derry Also living in the house at the time was another young women Shortly before 8.30am on August 3 that year a 999 call was made saying Katie had been found in the house after apparently having tried to take her own life Creswell said he found Katie when he returned to the house after taking his children to his mother’s house instead of waiting for the emergency crews to arrive Creswell put Katie in his car and started driving the short distance towards Altnagelvin Hospital he was told by a 999 handler to pull over and start CPR on Katie Creswell can be heard counting as he supposedly does resuscitation chest presses on Katie Paramedics arrived at the scene and took over the efforts to revive Katie before taking her to the hospital She was put on a life-support machine but never regained consciousness and died on August 9 Jonathan Creswell (35) arriving in court charged with the murder of Katie Simpson (Photo by Trevor McBride) Her heartbroken family and friends were left dealing with her death and the devastating belief she had taken her own life it was a sick lie created by Creswell to cover up his horrific crime the police team initially investigating Katie’s death fell for his lies following pressure from a number of people suspicious of Creswell a new police team were brought in to look at the case the truth began to emerge and in March 2021 Creswell was charged with Katie’s murder A court was subsequently told Creswell had “groomed” Katie since she was 10 years old and had been involved in an “illicit sexual liaison” with her Instead of Katie having taken her own life Creswell had raped her before strangling and killing her because he had found out she was involved in a new relationship Police believed his story about Katie’s suicide despite a number of red flags including the fact Creswell had served a prison sentence for choking and beating a previous partner On the opening day of the murder trial this year the prosecution said the story of Katie having died as a result of suicide was “a fiction” and Creswell had “lied and lied” in an effort to cover his tracks The trial had been expected to last between four to six weeks but was halted after Creswell’s death A few days after his body was found at his bail address It’s believed only two people attended the short ceremony Creswell also had a “controlling” relationship with a number of other women three of them were convicted after admitting offences connected to Katie’s death Jill Robinson and Rose De Montmorency-Wright received suspended sentences after pleading guilty to a range of offences admitted withholding information and a further two charges of perverting the course of justice She washed clothes belonging to Creswell and cleaned blood at his home Her two-year prison sentence was suspended for two years Katie Simpson and Rose de Montmorency-Wright Robb admitted during police interviews she had been in a sexual relationship with Creswell for a decade he had pushed her head and slapped her in the face Robb told police Creswell had told her he had given Katie “a hiding” the day before she was found after apparently having tried to take her own life When Robb followed Creswell back to the house at Gortnessy Meadows from the hospital and he told her he was having a cold shower he told her “not to breathe a word of it” to anyone Robb went to Robinson’s house and told her about Creswell beating Katie They both went to the outdoor launderette in Fintona also admitted perverting the course of justice and was sentenced to 16 months admitted withholding information between October 2020 and October 2021 De Montmorency-Wright said she spoke to Creswell who told her he had hit Katie with a stick around the ankles and was worried “people would think it was him who had killed her” He said he hit her because of her new relationship with another man She later told police she did not make a statement at the time “in order to have Johnny’s back” De Montmorency-Wright was sentenced to eight months It was stressed in court the three women were covering up Creswell’s assault on Katie but were not aware at that time he had killed her Judge Neil Rafferty said: “The number of witnesses; volume of evidence they give; and the detail and contents of these statements create an irresistible conclusion that Jonathon Creswell was a skilled and predatory abuser who regarded women under his influence as simply there to be used and abused for his own ends including his sexual gratification.” Speaking outside Derry’s courthouse after the conviction of the three women said: “It’s heartbreaking to know the suffering that monster put Katie through “I can’t imagine how anyone could do such a thing Katie would have fought back because she lived life.” Mrs Simpson said not having a trial due to Creswell’s death had left the family with a “deep sense of injustice” Now download the free app for all the latest Sunday World News, Crime, Irish Showbiz and Sport. Available on Apple and Android devices In August 2020, in a small housing estate in Derry, 21-year-old Katie Simpson was found in a critical condition. According to the man who discovered her, her brother-in-law Jonathan Creswell, the young woman had attempted suicide. Six days later, Katie died in hospital from her injuries. The community was shocked that this outgoing and talented showjumper had taken her own life. But all was not as it seemed. The publicly charismatic and well-connected Creswell, a jockey and former showjumper, had a dark and violent past. And although the PSNI were quick to treat this case as suicide, news of Katie’s death raised suspicions within the community. Journalist Tanya Fowles tells In the News how she tried again and again to raise the alarm about Creswell – but it took until March 2024 for the violent abuser to appear in court in Derry to face charges of rape and murder. Why did it take so long to bring him to justice and why did the trial end after just one day? This is the first of two episodes on Jonathan Creswell and his crimes. You can listen back to part one now in the player above or whereever you get your podcasts. Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan. Bernice Harrison is an Irish Times journalist and cohost of In the News podcast Facebook pageTwitter feed© 2025 The Irish Times DAC Katie Simpson died four years ago (Family handout/PA) The Police Ombudsman says the PSNI investigation into the death of Katie Simpson was “flawed and failed her family” The 21-year-old died in hospital a week after an incident near Drumahoe The PSNI initially accepted the word of her sister’s boyfriend Jonathan Creswell that he had found her trying to take her own life It’s believed he drove Katie back and forth across the border while repeatedly attacking her in a jealous rage Despite Creswell’s violent history and physical marks of abuse on Katie local police failed to question others on Katie’s life He was later charged with her murder but ended his life one day into his trial earlier this year Ciarán Dunbar is joined by Belfast Telegraph crime correspondent Allison Morris the Lane County Sheriff's Office received a report of a suicidal subject in the Creswell area who was likely armed with a handgun Deputies soon located the person on the second floor of a warehouse in the 33400 block of West Lane in Creswell The person was confirmed to be armed with a handgun and made suicidal statements Deputies and officers assigned to the Lane County Sheriff's Crisis Negotiation Team (CNT) responded and spoke with the person over the next several hours Deputies assigned to the Lane County Sheriff's Special Response Team (SRT) also responded "The call was unique as the person had committed only a low-level misdemeanor crime but was armed and on someone else's property," the Lane County Sheriff's Office says "At one point the subject fired a round from the handgun toward an area inside where SRT deputies had staged earlier in the incident Deputies remained calm and continued working towards a peaceful resolution." It was later determined that the round was fired on accident the person followed instructions to be safely detained and was then transported to an area hospital for further assistance "Their name is being withheld as no criminal action was taken," LCSO stated The Sheriff's Office thanks the Coburg and Junction City police departments and the property owners for their assistance during this incident If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide Call the Lane County Crisis Line at 541-682-1001 Garrett HarganWed 24 Jul 2024 at 11:19Chief Constable Jon Boutcher has defended senior detective John Caldwell following criticism of the Katie Simpson murder investigation Mr Boutcher acknowledged that officers are subject to misconduct proceedings in relation to the probe The 21-year-old showjumper died in hospital six days after an incident in a house in Co Londonderry in August 2020 Jonathan Creswell claimed Katie had taken her own life Katie’s body was covered in bruises after Creswell beat and killed her Creswell transported Katie to Altnagelvin Hospital where her bruises were of concern to nurses A post-mortem examination noted injuries to her limbs "consistent to being struck with a rod-type implement" Creswell had a conviction for a catalogue of physical abuse against another woman within the showjumping world and had been sentenced to six months in prison back in 2010 Creswell took his own life of the second day of his trial for murdering Katie In a statement to the BBC Mr Boutcher acknowledged shortcomings in the initial stages of the investigation and said he was sorry for this He added that following an investigation by the Police Ombudsman misconduct proceedings were under way against some officers but confirmed that Mr Caldwell was not one of them The chief constable said Mr Caldwell almost gave his life in public service and he and his family have the PSNI’s full support while his recovery continues He said that the challenge of immediately identifying the circumstances of a death where a perpetrator as devious and manipulative as Creswell was involved should not be underestimated In the months after Katie's death police treated the case as suicide before it was upgraded to a murder investigation The PSNI said Katie Simpson’s murder had left a family devastated and they continue to suffer unimaginably Mr Caldwell led a major investigation team based at Maydown PSNI Station in Derry Mr Caldwell is one of the best-known detectives in the PSNI In 2023 he survived a dissident republican gun attack and was awarded the King’s Police Medal DCI John Caldwell survived a murder bid by dissident republicans (Brian Lawless/PA) said that a police officer from another team who was trying to push for an investigation “I am aware that there was an individual officer who did a lot of work and actually brought it forward to his superior to say: ‘This isn’t right here.’ not from his superior but from within the team around the district in which Katie lived and where the death actually occurred,” she said “There was a police team in the PSNI who just didn’t want to know I’ve been informed that it was DCI John Caldwell who led that team.” But DUP peer Lord Morrow challenged Ms McAllister about her allegations “Nuala McAllister’s comments are extraordinary and in light of the Chief Constable’s rebuttal she should do the honourable thing and immediately provide evidence to back up her comments or else apologise forthwith and correct the record,” he said DUP Policing Board member Trevor Clarke said: “I will be raising Nuala McAllister’s behaviour with the Board and asking for the Chairman to review her comments.”