Police review three cases recorded as suicide

The Police Service of Northern Ireland has confirmed it is reviewing three cases recorded as suicide, following the Katie Simpson case.

A Police Ombudsman report into the death of the County Armagh showjumper found that the police investigation was flawed and failed her family.

The report said there had been "a general lack of investigative mindset", which led to her death in 2020 being treated as suicide for several months.

Jonathan Creswell was later charged with her murder.

Red flags missed Creswell was found dead at home aged 36 while standing trial in April.

In a statement to BBC News NI on Friday the police said: "Following the Katie Simpson case, the Police Service of Northern Ireland is reviewing three cases recorded as suicide."

Ms Simpson, 21, from Tynan in County Armagh, was taken to hospital with serious injuries after an incident in a house in County Londonderry, in August 2020.

Creswell, her sister's partner, had called 999 and pretended he had found her hanging from a stairwell.

But police later came to the conclusion that he had beaten her before strangling her.

Ms Simpson was admitted to Altnagelvin Hospital where she died six days later, having never regained consciousness.

Multiple red flags were missed before Creswell was eventually charged with her murder.

The possibility of other such cases was raised by political representatives at a Policing Board meeting at the start of September.