Garden to remember murdered Chloe Mitchell vandalised on eve of court date

The memorial garden, which features a picture of Chloe under a rainbow alongside a number of floral displays, had a wrought iron fence added last month.

A small plaque with a dedicated inscription was added earlier this month, with the changes documented on the Justice for Chloe Mitchell Facebook page.

On Friday afternoon, the page revealed the garden had been vandalised the night before supporters were due to travel to Belfast for an update on the case.

The post described how flowers had been pulled out and stolen from the memorial, with letters pulled off a plant box and an attempt made to steal a granite memorial stone.

It also said Chloe's father George had to spend Friday morning cleaning up the memorial before heading to the court hearing.

The memorial had previously been targeted in July, when a floral display and decorative milk churn were stolen from the garden. They were returned after a member of the public confronted those responsible.

The PSNI have said they are investigating the latest report of vandalism.

"Police are investigating the report of criminal damage in the Larne Road area of Ballymena on Friday September 20," said a spokesperson.

"It was reported that damage was caused to a memorial in the area sometime overnight between Thursday night and Friday morning.

"Anyone with any information about this incident or who may be able to help with our investigation, is asked to call us on the non-emergency number 101, quoting reference number 627 20/09/24, or submit a report online using our non-emergency reporting form."

Chloe Mitchell's remains were found days after she went missing last year. She was last seen alive on CCTV in Ballymena town centre in the early hours of June 3, 2023, and an extensive search operation was conducted. Detectives investigating her disappearance later launched a murder investigation after human remains were discovered in the Co Antrim town.

Brandon Rainey (28) of James Street, Ballymena, denies charges of murder and attempting to prevent lawful burial in relation to Ms Mitchell's death.

Around 60 people, including family, friends and supporters travelled from Ballymena to Belfast on Friday for the review, which heard the defendant had been examined by a psychiatrist in prison over his mental health problems, which date back to childhood.

During a hearing in May this year, defence lawyers said the issue in the case was the "state of mind of the defendant at the material time'' and a consultant psychiatrist had been instructed to provide a report following a face-to-face meeting with Rainey.

In Friday's update, defence counsel Neil Connor KC told Mr Justice O'Hara: "We have received the consultant psychiatrist's report this week.

"As a result of the contents of the report, I have arranged a consultation with Mr Rainey next week at Maghaberry Prison and instructions are required to be taken from him in the course of that consultation.

"Depending on that consultation, it may be that an addendum report will be required from the consultant psychiatrist or we seek another report from a suitably qualified expert psychiatrist.

"At this stage, I am not relying on the consultant psychiatrist's report and it has not been served on the Crown or the court.''

Mr Justice O'Hara said he would review the case again on Friday, October 4.

He added: "We will keep things moving as fast as we possibly can.''