An inquest into the death of Katie Simpson requires resolution of redactions in police files before it can proceed, legal counsel stated at a hearing.

Katie Simpson, 21, from Tynan in Co Armagh, died at Altnagelvin Hospital in Londonderry almost a week after an incident at Gortnessy Meadows in Lettershandoney, Co Derry, on August 3, 2020.

Police initially classified the death as suicide. In the following year, Jonathan Creswell, 36, partner of Simpson's sister, faced arrest on suspicion of murder. Creswell's trial ended in April last year due to his death.

Coroner Joe McCrisken oversees the inquest. A prior pre-inquest review identified 352 police files for review, totalling 25,000 to 29,000 pages. These include 44 police reports, 77 transmission files, 165 exhibits, 237 statements, and 53 interview files.

Philip Henry KC, counsel to the coroner, noted an issue under the Sexual Offences Act 1992 flagged by police. McCrisken directed contact with individuals named as potential victims. Contact succeeded with some but not all.

Henry submitted that no final ruling on redactions can occur until responses arrive from all or reasonable efforts to reach them exhaust. He stated this step unlocks progress, as police materials form the main inquest papers.

Henry mentioned pending applications needing disclosure to properly interested persons. His team reviewed sensitive materials potentially relevant to the inquest, available for PSNI review.

Mark Robinson KC, for the PSNI, indicated a limited volume of documents with sensitivities and proposed eight weeks for the marking process.

The next pre-inquest review hearing is set for the second week of May.