Latest news with #DeathofaShowjumper
Sunday World
7 days ago
- Sunday World
Documentary on murder of showjumper Katie Simpson set to air after being pulled by family
We can reveal that Jill Robinson, who washed Jonathan Creswell's clothes after he killed the 21-year-old in August 2020, gives an explosive interview to the makers of Death of a Showjumper A Sky documentary about the murder of showjumper Katie Simpson was pulled after her family complained about how one of the women convicted of covering up the murder was portrayed, the Sunday World has learned. We can reveal that Jill Robinson, who washed Jonathan Creswell's clothes after he killed the 21-year-old in August 2020, gives an explosive interview to the makers of Death of a Showjumper. She was one of three women convicted of being involved in the cover-up but she is the only one of the three who agreed to take part in the documentary. Episode one of the three-part show was due to be shown last Wednesday but Sky postponed the screening at the last minute, despite massive publicity. Jill Robinson The family along with their solicitor met the production team from Walk On Air and Sky Studios and it's understood all issues have now been resolved and the show is due to be aired soon. We understand one of the issues that troubled people close to the family – who were given an advance viewing of the three-part series – was how 43-year-old Robinson was portrayed. Robinson, who admitted to perverting the course of justice by washing Creswell's clothes and was sentenced to 16 months in prison, suspended for two years, features throughout the documentary. Meanwhile, it has been claimed that Katie might still be alive if cops had captured Creswell back in 2016 for indecent exposure. Creswell, who took his own life on the second day of his trial for rape and murder of Katie, evaded justice by fleeing across the border to County Donegal in 2016 when a couple made a complaint about him exposing his genitals and making threats to kill them while they worked at stables in County Antrim with him. Creswell was never arrested for that, the case was closed as cops said they could not trace him, despite Creswell setting up a new business in Donegal and repeatedly travelling back into Northern Ireland to attend horse shows and hunt balls. Death of a Showjumper details the shocking death of Katie Simpson A campaigning journalist who features in Death of a Showjumper says Katie might not have been murdered if police had been more diligent in tracing Creswell, especially as by the time he exposed himself he already had served time in jail for battering previous partner Abi Lyle. Tanya Fowles, who fought to have cops reopen the Katie Simpson case after concerns were raised to her about the suicide claim, says police were warned about just how dangerous Creswell was. The exposure victim and her partner – who we are calling Sarah and Ian – worked with Creswell briefly in late 2015. After exposing himself, he was challenged by Ian and Creswell threatened to 'snap (Ian's) neck and break his back' while shouting, 'your c**t of a girlfriend will get what's coming'. Jonathan Creswell 'When Sarah was a victim of Creswell's behaviour in 2016 and reported him to police she was very clear to stress he was dangerous,' Tanya told the Sunday World. 'She recounted very specific details which in essence pointed to him being predatory, sexually deviant and particularly dangerous to females. 'After around a year she was told he could not be found and the PPS had declined to prosecute. 'When the murder trial ended last year Sarah reported her concerns to the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland (PONI)who dismissed her complaint, contending the PSNI had carried out extensive searches for Creswell and believed he had fled to ROI. 'She then contacted me and I very quickly found evidence of Creswell being repeatedly in Northern Ireland and even at the very stable yard where the incident occurred. 'In fact when he went for High Court bail after being charged with Katie's murder, Sarah's case was used as an objection that he may try to flee if released as he had done in the past but his own barrister confirmed he had gone to live in Donegal but apparently drove to the Antrim yard daily to work and police never came looking for him. Death of a Showjumper 'However, what became more concerning in this already epic failure by PSNI around Creswell, I submitted multiple press enquires and FOIs on Sarah's case which have all been stonewalled. 'If PSNI had taken Sarah's account seriously – especially coming on the back of his appalling behaviour against Abi Lyle – Katie may well be alive today. 'This is something which really troubles Sarah and while Creswell was the perpetrator with overall responsibility for his conduct, the PSNI's laxity in addressing this when critical information was brought to their attention meant he ran free and unfettered.' Sarah went back to the Police Ombudsman with the new information about Creswell being seen regularly in Northern Ireland and the new team have reopened her case. The Sunday World can reveal the handling of those complaints made by the couple he threatened are part of a massive PONI probe which has seen 13 police officers investigated. Specialist investigating officers have been brought in from London to look into various potential failures with the handling of the Katie murder. Currently seven police officers are being investigated while six were already looked into during an initial investigation which resulted in an apology from the PSNI. Five of those 13 have retired while under investigation across two separate probes from the police watchdog. We can reveal two retired while being investigated in the first probe while three were disciplined and one was cleared. In the second probe, which is ongoing, three officers have retired and four are still serving. The investigation is muti-layered and covers not just the initial failure to treat the murder as a suicide but also the second police investigation and most importantly potential police failures dating back to 2016. Three of the complaints to PONI were made after the collapse of the trial last year when Creswell took his own life. One complaint has been made about an officer and their conduct while another relates to the overall second police investigation including the failure of police to charge a fourth woman who we understand had admitted to police she was aware Katie had been beaten by Creswell the night before and that he had taken her phone. In August 2020, Katie, a talented showjumper originally from Tynan in Co Armagh, was living with Creswell, his partner Christina, who was Katie's sister, and Creswell and Christina's two young children at Gortnessy Meadows on the Derry outskirts. 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 emergency crews, Creswell put Katie in his car and drove towards Altnagelvin Hospital. En route, he was told by a 999 handler to pull over and start CPR on Katie. In a recording of the call, Creswell can be heard counting as he supposedly does resuscitation chest presses. This, it later turned out, was all an act. Paramedics arrived at the scene and took over the efforts to revive Katie before taking her to the hospital. She never regained consciousness and died on August 9, 2020. Katie Simpson News in 90 Seconds - July 23rd
Belfast Telegraph
17-07-2025
- Belfast Telegraph
Katie Simpson Trust is set up as ‘a beacon of support and accountability for other families'
Katie, from Tynan in Co Armagh, was killed by her sister's partner, Jonathan Creswell, who had been abusing her from a young age. However, police initially treated the murder as suicide. The Katie Simpson Trust says it 'stands not only in Katie's memory but as a beacon of support and accountability for other Irish families... The Trust is committed to providing training and raising awareness around investigative standards, victim support, and justice. 'It will work tirelessly to ensure that no family is left without answers or a voice. The trust has been launched to provide critical support to families who have lost a loved one in circumstances initially treated as suicide, accident or disappearance but where questions remain.' Meanwhile, a TV documentary about the murder, called Death of a Showjumper, has been postponed due to concerns the family had about aspects of the programme. It had been due to start on Wednesday on Sky and streaming service Now. Members of the Simpson family, along with their solicitor, Kevin Winters, of KRW Law, met with the production company and the issues are thought to have been resolved, with the documentary to be shown at a future date. The production company has been contacted for comment. Creswell had raped and beaten Katie overnight on August 3, 2020. He then made a 999 call, but put her semi-naked body in a car and started driving her to Altnagelvin Area Hospital. En route, Katie was transferred to an ambulance and Creswell, who was driving Katie's car, told paramedics and the two police officers that she had attempted to take her own life. Police were also told by Creswell that Katie, who was covered in bruises, had recently fallen from a horse. The talented showjumper died in hospital, without regaining consciousness, on August 10, 2020, aged 21. A Police Ombudsman probe concluded that the police investigation was hindered by the 'misleading working assumption' adopted by a number of officers that Katie's injuries were self-inflicted. Following the Ombudsman's report, Assistant Chief Constable Davy Beck apologised to the family and admitted there were 'shortcomings in various stages of the investigation'. 'It is clear that we were not rigorous enough in our pursuit of all potential lines of enquiry and did not act quickly enough in responding to some of the concerns that were raised around Katie's death,' he said. The Katie Simpson Trust, which will be launched on Friday, is being headed up by retired PSNI detective sergeant James Brannigan, who also worked on the investigation into the murder of Charlotte Murray, whose body has never been found. Ms Murray went missing in 2012 and her partner, Johnny Miller, was convicted in 2019 of her murder, making legal history as the first conviction of its kind in the absence of a body. Mr Brannigan says he is currently working with two other families who also have unanswered questions about their loved ones' deaths. 'What abusers do is isolate their victim from friends and family. Loved ones come together at a funeral and it is often only then that they think: 'This is not right.' But at that point it is very difficult to get a police investigation opened,' he said. 'If it turns out that a loved one has died at their own hand, as sad as that is, at least if the questions are answered it can give the family some closure.' The trust has said that it is already looking at two other cases, using specialist officers with 'expertise tailored to each'. It says its 'mission is simple: to bring peace of mind, clarity and, when needed, justice, by listening to families in their darkest hour'. Mr Brannigan added: 'As awful as he was, Jonathan Creswell is not a unique character. There are others out there like him.' Based in Northern Ireland, The Katie Trust says it will support families across the island of Ireland and beyond, offering training and guidance to police services to improve investigative standards and response. Mr Brannigan said: 'I believe there has been a growth in hidden homicides, and I'm aware police don't like that term. 'I know we will be inundated at the start and it is daunting work, but it needs to be done. 'It is not going to be easy, but there is a need for it when it comes to seeking answers, and we hope the charity fills that gap.'
Irish Independent
14-07-2025
- Irish Independent
‘He hit me over and over': Olympian on abusive relationship with Jonathan Creswell, the trainer accused of showjumper Katie Simpson's murder
The Bangor-born equestrian was in a relationship with Creswell from 2008 to 2009. A year after it ended, he was jailed for six months for multiple vicious and prolonged assaults on Ms Lyle who has revealed the extent of what she suffered ahead of Death of a Showjumper, a new three-part documentary series by Sky. It tells the story of a predatory abuser who operated in plain sight of Northern Ireland's 'horsey community' and explores police failings. Speaking to The Irish Times, Ms Lyle said she had just turned 23 when she started a relationship with the Greysteel man and was only beginning her career with horses. 'He was just so confident, charming and cocky and cheeky,' Ms Lyle recalled. 'But also very thoughtful, sweet and kind — just an alluring person.' However, the romance took a twist when Creswell assaulted Ms Lyle in February 2009 during a row before she left to go out with friends. He later sent a text apologising for his behaviour and asked if he could collect her. 'We got in the car and he swerved right, and my phone flew out of my hand... He said, 'You won't be needing that',' she said. 'Out of nowhere, he grabbed the back of my head [and] he hit my head off the window, off the dashboard. 'I was like, curled up, and he just hit me over my body, over and over and over. The shock of it. I always thought I would defend myself, but this crazy instinct took over. ADVERTISEMENT 'You will do or say anything to calm that person down because you are very aware you cannot win that fight. When he started to say, 'I'm really sorry, I'll never do that again. Oh my goodness. I really love you. Why did I do that?'… As soon as they say, 'Sorry', that pain is gone. Lifted. 'The relief was unbelievable, and it was like oxygen. By then I was in it. 'You think it's because of you. I shouldn't be doing these things, shouldn't be saying these things, I should be acting in a different way to stop this side of him coming out. But he got worse.' Ms Lyle's father contacted Nuala Lappin, a specialist PSNI domestic violence officer, which she described as her 'saving grace'. 'We kind of started a communication, just on the phone, for a couple of months before I left [Creswell],' she said. 'She said, 'I know you are not ready to [leave Creswell], but you can, and you will'. She was amazing, she was the only person who understood... Everyone's reaction [to her relationship with Creswell] was anger. A lot of people were so angry with me. They were like: 'Why are you going back? Why?' 'Nuala was the only person who truly understood why at that time I couldn't. Having her advice is probably why I am here today.' On August 3, 2020, Creswell drove Katie Simpson part-way to Altnagelvin Hospital before the unresponsive passenger was transferred to an ambulance. He told paramedics and two police officers that she had attempted to take her own life. She died in hospital without regaining consciousness a week later. Following a botched PSNI investigation, Creswell was eventually charged with Katie's murder but died after just one day of evidence in the case. At his trial, it was alleged he had strangled her and tried to cover it up by claiming she had hanged herself. Ms Lyle said that news of Creswell's arrest for Katie's murder 11 years after she walked away was 'devastating', but not surprising. 'I always thought he was capable of something like that,' she said. Death of a Showjumper is set to air on Sky and Now on Wednesday, July 16
Sunday World
13-07-2025
- Sunday World
Irish Olympian on her abusive relationship with trainer linked to murder of showjumper
Dressage rider speaks ahead of documentary on tragic death of Katie Simpson Irish Olympian and dressage rider Abigail Lyle has opened up on the abuse she suffered at the hands of Jonathan Creswell more than a decade before the death of showjumper Katie Simpson. The County Down equestrian was in a relationship with Creswell from 2008 to 2009. A year after it ended, he was jailed for six months for multiple vicious and prolonged assaults on Ms Lyle who has revealed the extent of what she suffered ahead of Death of a Showjumper, a new three-part documentary series by Sky. Abigail Lyle and Jonathan Creswell. News in 90 Seconds - Sunday July 13 It tells the story of a predatory abuser who operated in plain sight of Northern Ireland's 'horsey community' and explores police failings. Speaking to The Irish Times, Ms Lyle said she had just turned 23 when she started a relationship with the Greysteel man and was only beginning her career with horses. 'He was just so confident, charming and cocky and cheeky,' Ms Lyle recalled. 'But also very thoughtful, sweet and kind — just an alluring person.' Jonathan Creswell However, the romance took a twist when Creswell assaulted Ms Lyle in February 2009 during a row before she left to go out with friends. He later sent a text apologising for his behaviour and asked if he could collect her. 'We got in the car and he swerved right, and my phone flew out of my hand... He said, 'You won't be needing that',' she said. 'Out of nowhere, he grabbed the back of my head [and] he hit my head off the window, off the dashboard. 'I was like, curled up, and he just hit me over my body, over and over and over. The shock of it. I always thought I would defend myself, but this crazy instinct took over. 'You will do or say anything to calm that person down because you are very aware you cannot win that fight. When he started to say, 'I'm really sorry, I'll never do that again. Oh my goodness. I really love you. Why did I do that?'… As soon as they say, 'Sorry', that pain is gone. Lifted. 'The relief was unbelievable, and it was like oxygen. By then I was in it. 'You think it's because of you. I shouldn't be doing these things, shouldn't be saying these things, I should be acting in a different way to stop this side of him coming out. But he got worse.' Ms Lyle's father contacted Nuala Lappin, a specialist PSNI domestic violence officer, which she described as her 'saving grace'. 'We kind of started a communication, just on the phone, for a couple of months before I left [Creswell],' she said. 'She said, 'I know you are not ready to [leave Creswell], but you can, and you will'. She was amazing, she was the only person who understood... Everyone's reaction [to her relationship with Creswell] was anger. A lot of people were so angry with me. They were like: 'Why are you going back? Why?' 'Nuala was the only person who truly understood why at that time I couldn't. Having her advice is probably why I am here today.' Katie Simpson On August 3, 2020, Creswell drove Katie Simpson part-way to Altnagelvin Hospital before the unresponsive passenger was transferred to an ambulance. He told paramedics and two police officers that she had attempted to take her own life. She died in hospital without regaining consciousness a week later. Following a botched PSNI investigation, Creswell was eventually charged with Katie's murder but took his own life after just one day of evidence in the case. At his trial, it was alleged he had strangled her and tried to cover it up by claiming she had hanged herself. Ms Lyle said that news of Creswell's arrest for Katie's murder 11 years after she walked away was 'devastating', but not surprising. 'I always thought he was capable of something like that,' she said. Death of a Showjumper is set to air on Sky and Now on Wednesday
Belfast Telegraph
13-07-2025
- Belfast Telegraph
‘He hit me over and over': Olympian on abusive relationship with trainer linked to murder of showjumper Katie
The Bangor-born equestrian was in a relationship with Creswell from 2008 to 2009. A year after it ended, he was jailed for six months for multiple vicious and prolonged assaults on Ms Lyle who has revealed the extent of what she suffered ahead of Death of a Showjumper, a new three-part documentary series by Sky. It tells the story of a predatory abuser who operated in plain sight of Northern Ireland's 'horsey community' and explores police failings. Speaking to The Irish Times, Ms Lyle said she had just turned 23 when she started a relationship with the Greysteel man and was only beginning her career with horses. 'He was just so confident, charming and cocky and cheeky,' Ms Lyle recalled. 'But also very thoughtful, sweet and kind — just an alluring person.' However, the romance took a twist when Creswell assaulted Ms Lyle in February 2009 during a row before she left to go out with friends. He later sent a text apologising for his behaviour and asked if he could collect her. 'We got in the car and he swerved right, and my phone flew out of my hand... He said, 'You won't be needing that',' she said. 'Out of nowhere, he grabbed the back of my head [and] he hit my head off the window, off the dashboard. 'I was like, curled up, and he just hit me over my body, over and over and over. The shock of it. I always thought I would defend myself, but this crazy instinct took over. 'You will do or say anything to calm that person down because you are very aware you cannot win that fight. When he started to say, 'I'm really sorry, I'll never do that again. Oh my goodness. I really love you. Why did I do that?'… As soon as they say, 'Sorry', that pain is gone. Lifted. 'The relief was unbelievable, and it was like oxygen. By then I was in it. 'You think it's because of you. I shouldn't be doing these things, shouldn't be saying these things, I should be acting in a different way to stop this side of him coming out. But he got worse.' Ms Lyle's father contacted Nuala Lappin, a specialist PSNI domestic violence officer, which she described as her 'saving grace'. 'We kind of started a communication, just on the phone, for a couple of months before I left [Creswell],' she said. 'She said, 'I know you are not ready to [leave Creswell], but you can, and you will'. She was amazing, she was the only person who understood... Everyone's reaction [to her relationship with Creswell] was anger. A lot of people were so angry with me. They were like: 'Why are you going back? Why?' 'Nuala was the only person who truly understood why at that time I couldn't. Having her advice is probably why I am here today.' On August 3, 2020, Creswell drove Katie Simpson part-way to Altnagelvin Hospital before the unresponsive passenger was transferred to an ambulance. He told paramedics and two police officers that she had attempted to take her own life. She died in hospital without regaining consciousness a week later. Following a botched PSNI investigation, Creswell was eventually charged with Katie's murder but took his own life after just one day of evidence in the case. Orange Order parade passes through Ardoyne without incident At his trial, it was alleged he had strangled her and tried to cover it up by claiming she had hanged herself. Ms Lyle said that news of Creswell's arrest for Katie's murder 11 years after she walked away was 'devastating', but not surprising. 'I always thought he was capable of something like that,' she said.
