Remembering Paul Lusby and His Warnings
David Lusby often reflects on moments when he wonders:
"What would my brother Paul do?"Paul was regarded by David as a
"good guy… a charismatic gentleman"whom he admired greatly and whose judgment he trusted implicitly.
Despite his respect, David admits to feeling frustration and occasional anger towards Paul, who tragically took his own life in July 2022. This event occurred 700 days after Paul initially attempted to alert police about Jonathan Creswell, who died while on trial for the murder of Paul’s friend Katie Simpson. During this nearly two-year period, David said Paul lived in fear and felt threatened.
"I have many questions - why did you do it? Why aren't you here? If anything, this is when we need you."
David emphasized the profound loss felt by Paul’s family:
"Paul's family... have lost such a good man."He added,
"And they just tried to silence him by ignoring him."
Katie Simpson’s Death and Initial Police Response
Katie Simpson, aged 21, died six days after being admitted to Altnagelvin Hospital in Londonderry in 2020. Initially, her death was treated as a suicide. Jonathan Creswell, who was her sister’s partner, had called emergency services pretending he had found her.
"Paul knew that Creswell was a killer,"David stated. He also said,
"And he knew nothing was being done."
"Paul spent 700 days living with the terror knowing that Creswell was free. Paul knew a killer was on the streets,"David told BBC Radio Foyle's North West Today programme.
Paul first contacted police the day after Katie was admitted to hospital, informing them that she was in domestic servitude and that Creswell had a criminal conviction. This was not his only attempt to raise concerns with authorities.
Investigations and Failures in Police Handling
A report into Katie’s death revealed that vital information was provided to police by members of the public, including Paul Lusby, during the early stages of the investigation but was not acted upon. Among these was a call Lusby made to Crimestoppers in August 2020, the day after Katie’s hospital admission.
The report found that Lusby’s information should have been investigated given the circumstances. He had also taken his concerns to the police ombudsman’s office. Furthermore, the report noted that information Lusby provided during a police interview was not properly recorded and that a formal statement should have been taken.
When Lusby later contacted police on 13 April 2021 to inquire about the interview, he was told the notes had been destroyed. The review’s author, Dr Jan Melia, concluded that these notes should not have been discarded and that all investigation materials should have been retained.
Background on Jonathan Creswell’s Abuse
From the age of 10, Katie was groomed by Jonathan Creswell, who was described in the Melia review as
"a predator who used sexual abuse and rape as a tactic targeting young women including Katie."
In 2009, Creswell was sentenced to six months in jail for a series of abuses against a former girlfriend.
On the second day of his trial for Katie’s murder in 2024, Creswell was found dead at his home.
Family’s Perspective and Calls for Accountability
David described his brother Paul as
"a good man, a noble man"who was
"trying to do the right thing."He expressed frustration at the police response:
"And they ignored him and I want to know why. I want to say the system failed him but to fail at something means you tried. They didn't try."
David said the Lusby family believes Paul lived in fear before his death, having received threats.
"He felt afraid, he had received threats. Paul was all over the country trying to get Creswell, going places where he was going. Paul was a complete menace to Creswell,"he explained.
On Monday, The Irish News reported that the Lusby family plans to initiate legal action against the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI). David stated the family believes a public inquiry is necessary:
"There needs to be a proper investigation, there needs to be a public inquiry, an investigation into all the police officers involved."
David acknowledged the ongoing trauma for the family:
"It's been terrible, it's been very difficult,"and added,
"It's affected my parents, obviously, really bad. The loss of a son and a brother, they didn't deserve this."
Police Service Response
In a statement, the PSNI acknowledged the suffering of the Lusby family and highlighted recent apologies from Assistant Chief Constable Davy Beck and Chief Constable Jon Boutcher regarding failings in the initial investigation into Katie Simpson’s death. The statement acknowledged failures, including not heeding early concerns raised by individuals.
Police Ombudsman’s Office Engagement
Hugh Hume, Chief Executive of the Police Ombudsman’s Office, said he will contact the Lusby family to offer a meeting to discuss their concerns. He explained the initial assessment of Paul’s complaint was that it was not within their remit to investigate because he was not personally involved or acting on behalf of someone directly affected.
However, after Paul provided additional information, a new complaint was investigated. Hume expressed gratitude for Paul bringing these issues to attention, noting that his complaint was among several that prompted a detailed investigation into the police handling of Katie’s death.
Support Information
Those affected by the issues raised in this story can find information and support through the BBC’s Action Line.
