Victim's family 'thankful' murder trial will go ahead

The family of Chloe Mitchell have said they are thankful after they were told her murder trial will take place as planned despite a barrister strike.

The 21-year-old, from Ballymena, County Antrim, was killed in June 2023.

Her brother, Philip Mitchell said their family "got the news we wanted" after they were told the case would be exempted from strike action.

Brandon John Rainey, formerly of James Street, Ballymena, is due to go on trial for her murder on 23 February.

"Day to day life has never been the same since Chloe was taken from us," Philip Mitchell told BBC News NI.

"We're just trying to fight for justice and hopefully if we get justice we can start to move on and try and grieve."

The ongoing strike was organised by the Criminal Bar Association (CBA) in protest over the level of legal aid fees paid to defence barristers.

It has halted almost all crown court cases in Northern Ireland involving people who require legal aid to defend themselves.

On Sunday, it was confirmed CBA representatives agreed to "exempt the upcoming trial involving the murder of Chloe Mitchell from its withdrawal of services".

Mitchell said he felt "mixed emotions" after the announcement and expressed sympathy for other crime victims whose cases are still impacted by the strike.

"I think every family and every case that's been put on hold, they all deserve their day in court."

Justice Minister Naomi Long met representatives of the CBA in an effort to resolve the current impasse within the criminal justice system.

Long described the meeting as constructive and welcomed "the CBA's commitment to engaging to find solutions".

She said that while "not all issues have been resolved, a decision has now been taken which will enable the Chloe Mitchell trial to progress".

She described how she recently met the Mitchell family and was "humbled by their resilience and determination to see justice for Chloe".

"We must never lose sight of the fact that victims are central to everything we do.

"We must protect them, we must serve them and we must be prepared to make hard decisions for them."

Michael Chambers KC, Vice Chair of the CBA, welcomed the minister's " frank and constructive engagement with the CBA".

He described how the CBA met the Mitchell family and north Antrim political representatives recently and "had an opportunity not only to listen but also to explain the full background of the strike".

"Our consistent position has been that our members want to be in court, dealing with cases like Chloe," Chambers continued.

He also welcomed the minister's confirmation that an accelerated review will proceed and said: "It is our hope that this will produce the urgent reforms necessary to enable a full return to work."

Further meetings between the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the CBA are scheduled.

Chloe Mitchell was 21 when she disappeared from Ballymena in early June 2023.

Her disappearance prompted a series of extensive searches before her remains were found about a week later.

Rainey was later arrested and charged with murdering Ms Mitchell between 2 and 5 June 2023.

He is further charged with attempting to prevent "the lawful and decent burial of a deceased body".

Barristers in Northern Ireland are protesting over the level of legal aid fees they receive for assisting defendants in criminal trials.

They recently complained that the fees had not risen in 20 years, having been set in 2005.

They claimed that a crisis had developed in the justice system due to the low rates of pay, with younger barristers refusing to take on legal aid cases.

The strike was called by the Criminal Bar Association which said the move was a "last resort" in its dispute with Stormont's DOJ.

The justice minister said barristers were set to receive a 16% fee increase by mid-January, but the uplift did not stop the strike.