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Mother begs police chief to give her 'closure' after review into daughter's death
A mother has spoken of the pain and questions around her 21-year-old daughter's death.
Caitlin Robb's death was recorded a suicide but her case is now being reviewed in light of the failings in the Katie Simpson case.
Police initially thought Ms Simpson had taken her own life in 2020 but she had in fact been murdered.
Jonathan Creswell, the partner of Ms Simpson’s sister, was later charged with her murder.
UTV can exclusively reveal that the PSNI’s Serious Crime Review Team is now reviewing four cases to determine whether everything that could have been done was done first time round.
Siobhan Robb lost her daughter in spring 2024. She said: "I never thought I would be kissing Caitlin for the last time at 21.
"She was such a character, she was the life and soul."Caitlin was a vulnerable young woman who battled drug addiction and serious mental health issues. It is also alleged that she was the victim of a serious crime.
But the 21-year-old had moved back in with family in Antrim. Her mum said she was feeling positive prior to her death.
Caitlin still had her own flat nearby and for the first time in months decided to stay there on April 24. But in the early hours she rang her mother very distressed, apologising for what she had put her family through.
She also spoke of her fear that someone was trying to get into her flat.
Siobhan rang the police who found Caitlin in her flat in critical condition. She died in hospital six days later.
Caitlin’s death is now one of a number of cases being re-examined on the back of the fall-out from the Katie Simpson case.
The showjumper’s death in 202 was initially wrongly thought to be suicide.
Policing Board member Trevor Clarke MLA said: "There has been a lack of trust over this last number of months with a number of these cases and it is imperative that this trust is rebuilt.
"This goes a short way in doing that in terms of the number of these cases that there has been so far.
"This should show, particularly in these families that the police are doing everything that they can to give them the assurance that they should have had at the outset."
Family solicitor, Kevin Winters, said: "Siobhan Robb and the other parents in those other cases that are subject to review should not be in that position of having to go through a review process.
"Apart from anything else, it takes a lot of time to go through that and in some ways, that is retraumatising.
"The closure that is needed in the aftermath of a terrible tragedy needs to happen a lot sooner and the guidelines in relation to the Katie Simpson murder investigation should be implemented in such a way as to preclude the need for any reviews in any case."
Caitlin's mum Siobhan has already met the Chief Constable, Jon Boutcher and is due to meet with him again in the coming weeks.
In a statement, Assistant Chief Constable for Crime Department, Davy Beck said: “As a result of recommendations following the tragic death of Katie Simpson, the Police Service of Northern Ireland is reviewing four cases, three of which were recorded as suicide, one of which is recorded as a sudden death.
“When the case reviews are finalised, meetings with the families will be arranged to discuss the findings.
“These cases are managed by a team of senior detectives and a thorough, diligent process of review is being applied.
“I’m mindful that behind each case there remains a grieving family and loved ones who have suffered. We will continue to work to support them.”
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