Chloe Mitchell's family say barrister strike adding to their trauma

The family of Chloe Mitchell, who was killed in Ballymena in 2023, have said they would "go down on their hands and knees to beg" for the barristers' strike to be resolved.

George Mitchell, Chloe's father, said any delay to a trial would bring "more trauma and heartache".

The strike, which began on 5 January, means no Crown Court cases involving people who require legal aid can proceed while the dispute over fees continues.

The Criminal Bar Association (CBA) has said it is "not impervious" to the impact of withdrawal of services and has described the action as a "last resort" which is "not being taken lightly".

"The Department of Justice must fulfil its obligations to victims of crime by engaging with the CBA in good faith and with pace and purpose, so that this action can come to an end," a spokesperson said in a statement, adding they "remain committed to engagement" in order to find a "sustainable way forward".

Justice Minister Naomi Long said "intensive efforts" were continuing to resolve the strike.

"I have proposed a way forward that would both allow the concerns of the CBA to be addressed at pace and fulfil the department's requirements in terms of appropriately managing public money," she said.

"Further engagement has been taking place this week and further meetings are scheduled for the coming days. It is hoped that engagement will result in a full return to service very soon."

The BBC understands there are five murder trials that may be affected by the strike, including the Chloe Mitchell and Natalie McNally cases.

'We've had enough trauma'

The remains of 21-year old Chloe were recovered days after she went missing in the summer of 2023.

George Mitchell has said that he has invited Long to meet him and his wife, Georgina, at their home.

"We would say to her these cases, like Chloe's and the McNally's and the other murder cases, there has to be some agreement to get them moving," George told BBC's The Nolan Show.

"I think we've had enough trauma without there being a hold put on it. It's just a kick in the teeth."

Long said her department had responded to a request to meet with the family and she hoped to do so "in the near future".

She said the damage caused by the strike could not be "overstated" and was "illustrated by the experience of Chloe's family".

"They are the people most affected by the current situation and it is upsetting and frustrating for me as justice minister that the unimaginable trauma they have already endured is being compounded by the withdrawal of services."

The trial of 29-year-old Brandon John Rainey, who is accused of Mitchell's murder, was due to begin on 26 February 2026.

Rainey, whose address was given as HMP Maghaberry and who is formerly of James Street in Ballymena, has also been charged with attempting to prevent "the lawful and decent burial of a deceased body" on the same date.

Rainey denies both charges and is currently on remand.

'Really devastating'

Linda McDowell, one of Chloe's aunts, said: "I would go down on my hands and knees to beg for some kind of compromise to this.

"This is really devastating. We're already destroyed, but this is destroying us more."

George said the family could not get any kind of closure and that his wife Georgina had barely left their home since they were informed of Chloe's death, and had been unable to attend any court dates.

"She hasn't been out on the streets of Ballymena apart from when her mother was on her deathbed," he explained.

"This has just destroyed her."

'Your heart is set on a date'

Chloe's dad said they were waiting to hear what would happen with the trial date, but had already faced other delays.

"Your heart is set on a date. Then we have to go back and tell my wife that it's all set back again and it's more trauma and heartache.

"It just drops her, she just falls to her knees and I have to walk away. I can't cope with seeing my wife the way she is," he said.

"We don't know how long this strike will go on for but, in my eyes, it has to come to some compromise."

'We're in limbo'

He said he lays the blame for this and all previous delays on the criminal justice system and would like to see changes to it to stop families like his facing years of delay.

"We're in limbo. We'll be running into three years soon," George stated.

"We're trying to see if we can get some kind of justice, a bit of closure."

George said he wouldn't like "another family to have to live in our shoes".

"It's just disgusting," he said.

"But life will never be the same.

"At the end of the day, my wee one has been took. It's not going to bring her back."

He appealed to both Long and the CBA to resolve the industrial action.

"Think of the families. Sort something out and get back to work."

The full interview will be broadcast on The Nolan Show at 09:00 on Thursday or you can listen back on BBC Sounds.