No evidence to support criminal allegation linked to murder investigation

The complaint centred on the initial decision by police not to treat Katie’s death as suspicious and alleged that the police officer had conflicts of interest which influenced that decision-making.

Enquiries, including witness interviews and examinations of investigative material, phone and email records, found no evidence of any personal connections between the police officer and other named parties. The case has now been closed.

The findings of the investigation into how the PSNI responded to Ms Simpson’s death were reported to her family in November 2024. However, until now the Police Ombudsman’s Office had been unable to share details of a specific element of the original investigation relating to the same police officer because of the linked complaint.

This was to maintain the integrity of the investigation and to ensure fairness for the police officer involved.

The Simpson family have now been informed that the Police Ombudsman made no recommendations to the PSNI in respect of the police officer as part of its original investigation, and that it has found no evidence of criminal wrongdoing in its subsequent investigation.

Two further complaints made to the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland (PONI) and linked to the murder of Katie Simpson are now at an advanced stage, it said.

PSNI Assistant Chief Constable Davy Beck, said: “We note today’s announcement from the PONI, which states that no evidence was found to support an allegation of criminal wrongdoing, made about a police officer involved in the PSNI investigation into the murder of Katie Simpson.

“We remain committed to learning from this case, and will continue to cooperate fully with PONI in relation to any complaint.”