The Katie Trust: when questions remain, families deserve to be heard
Our Story
Why The Katie Trust Exists
Katie was 21 years old. She was funny, kind and passionate about horses, which were at the centre of her life.
Following Katie's death, serious questions emerged about what had happened, what had been missed and whether opportunities to recognise risk had been overlooked.
The Katie Trust exists because people refused to accept that important questions should be left unanswered.
We work with bereaved families, professionals and organisations to help improve understanding, strengthen safeguarding and ensure that lessons are learned when systems fail to recognise risk. Our aim is to make sure that what happened to Katie is never allowed to happen to another family.
When questions remain, families deserve to be heard.
Our Mission
Supporting Families. Demanding Answers.
We listen. We care. We act.
The Katie Trust was founded to support families who have lost a loved one in circumstances where questions remain: where investigations have fallen short, where institutions have failed to listen, and where the bereaved have been left to navigate an overwhelming system alone.
No family should face unanswered questions alone.
About The Trust
Born from Katie's Story
The Katie Trust was established in memory of Katie Simpson, a young woman with a deep love of horses whose death left her family with profound unanswered questions. What began as one family's search for answers has grown into a charity that supports families across Ireland and beyond.
We provide practical support, advocacy, information and specialist guidance to families navigating the aftermath of unexplained death, domestic homicide and institutional failure. We work alongside families, professionals and partner organisations to ensure that no one has to face the system alone.
The Trust is led by James Brannigan, who has dedicated himself to ensuring that Katie's story, and the stories of families like hers, leads to lasting change in how institutions respond to bereaved families.
The Katie Trust is a registered charity. Charity number: NI111085.
Katie's Story
A Life Full of Spirit and a Love of Horses
Katie Simpson was a young woman whose love of horses defined her world. She was known for her warmth, her laughter, and the quiet determination she brought to everything she did.
Her death, and the questions that followed, led her family on a long and painful journey through a system that too often fails the bereaved. It was that experience of being unheard, of doors closing, of investigations falling short, that inspired the founding of The Katie Trust.
The Channel 4 documentary The Showjumper Murder tells Katie's story in full. It is essential viewing for anyone who wants to understand why The Katie Trust exists.
Watch on Channel 4
The Katie Trust
We Won't Look Away Again
In partnership with The Bridle Path Initiative
In Katie's name. In Danielle's name. Together, we take the reins of change.
Watch the full film · 4 min 41 sec
The Katie Trust × The Bridle Path Initiative
Justice Beyond the Gate
We Won't Look Away Again.
Katie's story began a fight for answers. Danielle's story shows why that fight is not over.
The Katie Trust and The Bridle Path Initiative are working together to turn what families have learned into change: better recognition of warning signs, stronger safeguarding, better investigation, specialist training and a response that joins the pieces before it is too late.
We won't look away again. We will listen. We will stay. We will take the reins of change.
Our Founder
James Brannigan
James Brannigan founded The Katie Trust after witnessing first-hand the devastating impact of institutional failure on bereaved families. His work is driven by a simple conviction: that families who have lost a loved one in unexplained or suspicious circumstances deserve to be heard, supported and believed.
James brings together professionals, advocates and partner organisations to ensure that the lessons learned from cases like Katie's lead to systemic change: in how families are supported, how institutions respond when things go wrong, and how the system can better serve those left behind.
He works closely with The Bridle Path Initiative CIC and other partner organisations to build a network of support that reaches families in rural, farming and equestrian communities across Ireland and beyond.
Contact JamesWhat We Do
How We Help
Family Support
We provide practical support, advocacy and specialist guidance to families navigating the aftermath of unexplained death, domestic homicide and institutional failure. We listen, we signpost, and we stay.
Free and confidential. No donation required to make an enquiry.
Make an Enquiry
Professional Learning
We deliver specialist training for professionals working in equestrian, rural, domestic abuse and bereavement contexts, building recognition of warning signs and improving multi-agency response.
Contact us for bespoke training
Advocacy & Policy
We advocate for stronger safeguarding standards, improved inter-agency communication and better support for bereaved families, informed by the lived experience of those who have been failed by the system.
Kirsty Judd
Founder & Chief Executive, The Bridle Path Initiative CIC
James Brannigan
Founder, The Katie Trust
Working in Partnership
The Bridle Path Initiative
Together for justice, safeguarding and change.
The Katie Trust and The Bridle Path Initiative CIC are working together to ensure that the lessons learned from Katie's story and Danielle's story lead to lasting, systemic change.
The Bridle Path Initiative was founded by Kirsty Judd in memory of Danielle Charters Christie, whose story, like Katie's, reveals the gaps in recognition, response and support that can exist within equestrian and rural communities.
Together, we deliver joint training, policy advocacy and family support that reaches professionals and communities across Ireland and beyond. Our partnership is built on a shared conviction: that no family should face what Katie's family and Danielle's family faced.
We welcome enquiries from organisations, businesses and individuals who wish to support this work through sponsorship, partnership or collaboration.
If you share our commitment to justice, safeguarding and change in equestrian, rural and domestic abuse contexts, we would love to hear from you.
In Katie's name and Danielle's name, we take the reins of change.
The Bridle Path Initiative CIC: [email protected] · thebridlepath.co.uk
Media & Films
In the News
Content note: some of the coverage below discusses domestic abuse, death and suicide. Please take care of yourself when reading.
Channel 4 Documentary
The Showjumper Murder
The Channel 4 documentary tells Katie's story in full: the investigation, the questions that remained, and the determination of those who refused to let the truth be buried.
Watch on Channel 4BBC News NI
2025
The Katie Trust: Supporting families with unanswered questions
Coverage of The Katie Trust's founding and its mission to support bereaved families in Northern Ireland and beyond.
Read article
UTV / ITV News
2025
Coercive control and the equestrian community
James Brannigan speaks about the need for better recognition of coercive control in rural and equestrian settings.
Read articleChannel 4
2025
The Showjumper Murder: Documentary
The full documentary telling Katie Simpson's story and the questions that remain unanswered.
Read articleResources
Downloads
Joint Resource
Bridle Path & Katie Trust Joint Delegate Pack 2026
Our joint delegate pack sets out the work of The Katie Trust and The Bridle Path Initiative, our shared mission, and how you can get involved.
Download PDFComing Soon
The Katie Trust Information Pack
Our own information pack, covering family support, professional learning and advocacy, is in preparation and will be available to download shortly.
Coming Soon
Get Involved
Work With Us
We work with families, professionals, organisations, sponsors and partners who want to create real change for victims and survivors in rural, farming and equestrian communities.
Support Our Work
Support The Katie Trust
Your support helps us stand alongside families, challenge unanswered questions, strengthen professional learning and turn lessons into change.
Make a Donation
Donate directly to The Katie Trust via GoFundMe. Every pound goes towards supporting families and funding our work.
Donate via GoFundMeFundraise for Us
Run, ride, walk or organise an event in Katie's memory. We will support you every step of the way.
Get in TouchCorporate Partnership
Partner with The Katie Trust to demonstrate your commitment to justice, safeguarding and change in rural and equestrian communities.
Find Out MoreVolunteer
We welcome volunteers with skills in communications, fundraising, legal, social work and equestrian contexts.
Get Involved
Community Fundraising
Colwyn Bay Tag Rugby
Local clubs and community groups across Ireland and Wales have been fundraising for The Katie Trust. If your club or group would like to get involved, we would love to hear from you.
Get in Touch
We Are Here
If you have lost a loved one in circumstances where questions remain, please reach out. You do not need to donate to make an enquiry. We will listen.
Email James directly
[email protected]