Justice 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,
The 36-year-old, who spent six months in prison for abusing his former partner, Abi Lyle, 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.
Following the 2010 conviction, 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.
The 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.”