Detective Chief Inspector John Caldwell of the Police Service Northern Ireland (PSNI) is initiating a lawsuit against the BBC and a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) following remarks made in a documentary studying the inquiry into the death of equestrian athlete Katie Simpson. Engaged in legal proceedings over statements from Alliance Party MLA Nuala McAllister featured on the BBC show Spotlight, the experienced detective, who was seriously injured in an assassination attempt by dissident republicans in 2023, scrutinised the coverage.
Spotlight questioned the police’s initial reaction to Ms Simpson’s death, hinting that some officers were hesitant to see potential crime. Ms McAllister criticised Mr Caldwell’s role as the head of a PSNI team in the documentary. Early this month, Jon Boutcher, the Chief Constable, confessed to the Northern Ireland Policing Board the PSNI’s initial missteps in the investigation but vigorously defended Mr Caldwell, stating that he wasn’t subject to any misconduct charges.
The 21-year-old Ms Simpson, who originated from Tynan, Co Armagh, passed away in a hospital nearly a week following an episode at Gortnessy Meadows, Lettershandoney on the 3rd of August, 2020. Initially, the police perceived her death as a suicide. It wasn’t until the subsequent year that Jonathan Creswell, the partner of Ms Simpson’s sister, was apprehended on murder suspicion.
Creswell’s trial over his accused rape and killing of Ms Simpson finished abruptly in April due to his unexpected death. Creswell, previously convicted for assaulting another woman, rang the emergency services claiming he discovered Ms Simpson in the aftermath of an alleged suicide attempt. Mr Caldwell’s legal representation acknowledged that the Spotlight documentary brought up “significant concerns” regarding the PSNI inquiry.
Legal measures are being brought against both the BBC and Ms McAllister, as originally published by Sunday Life, due to the alleged inaccurate and false claims surrounding Mr Caldwell. Ms McAllister’s representative confirmed that her statements were based on in-depth research, and she would strongly confront any charges brought against her.
“DCI John Caldwell has engaged our services with regards to the BBC Spotlight programme on Katie Simpson’s death,” said a statement from WP Tweed and Co, acting on behalf of Mr Caldwell. They acknowledged the tragic incidents surrounding Katie’s murder and the acknowledged failings of the primary investigation by the PSNI chief constable. The statement expressed their client’s grave concerns about the policing probe. However, it emphasised that Mr Caldwell is not undergoing any PSNI disciplinary procedures. Mr Caldwell firmly and unequivocally denies the incorrect and false allegations that aim to damage both his personal and professional standing.
A rebuttal for McAllister from Kevin Winters of KRW Law stated that she, being an esteemed political figure, was requested to disclose the severe discrepancies in the PSNI’s investigation into Katie Simpson’s murder, and her role in the BBC Spotlight programme. He assured that Ms McAllister had conducted extensive research for her comments and would assertively defend against any legal actions challenging her input in the broadcast.
Lastly, a BBC representative commented, “Spotlight’s enquiry highlighted issues of major public interest and was produced in harmony with the editorial guidelines of the BBC. As of now, we have no further comments to add.”