A boarded-up flat linked to the suspected murder of a young woman has been described as “a living nightmare”. The remains of Chloe Mitchell, 21, were found almost a week after she went missing in Ballymena last summer. A flat at James Street has remained boarded up and vacant since her death and a campaign is now under way to have it demolished.
The victim’s brother, Philip, 27, said: “Nobody wants to look at the flat and to look at that flat every day is horrific.” Almost 3,000 people have signed an online petition seeking the demolition of the ground floor flat.
Philip Mitchell said there is growing public and political support for their campaign. “Local representatives have been in with us, have talked with us, they’re also doing their best on their side to compete to have the flat demolished.”
He said the presence of the boarded-up flat was adding to the ongoing suffering of his family, especially his parents. “My mother hasn’t left the house, she still goes up to her room and speaks to her, speaks to Chloe, and she just can’t get over it, none of us can,” he said.
“My dad’s the same, he tries to stay strong for her, tries to stay strong for us, but just as a family it’s a living nightmare.” Mr Mitchell believes if the flat was demolished it would bring “comfort” not only for his family but the whole community.
“They just don’t want to be looking at the flat every time walking past and it’s just, nobody wants to bear to look at it.” Chloe Mitchell’s aunt, Linda McDowell, who lives a short distance away, is part of the campaign group demanding the demolition of the flat.
“I just live a hundred yards away, just down the road there, and I have to walk past this flat every day if I’m going to the shops. It’s just a nightmare,” she said. “It needs to go, it really does need to go. The neighbours, the community, they don’t want to look at it.
“We will fight until we do get it demolished, there’ll be no stopping us, so it’s up to the chief executive (of the Housing Executive) now.”
Independent councillor Rodney Quigley is among the local political representatives backing the family campaign.
“It’s a living nightmare for the family and the community to have this flat still here,” he said.
“There have been many requests from the community to have this flat demolished.”
Mr Quigley called on the Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE) to listen to the concerns.
Believing there is strong cross-party political support, he said he would “keep pressure” on the NIHE.
“I will keep challenging them on the fact that this isn’t about a lack of housing, this is about doing the right thing,” he said.
NIHE’s chief executive Grainia Long said: “We are deeply sympathetic to this family at what is a time of absolutely tragic loss.
“We’re aware of their concerns and our staff have already met with them to hear their views in person.
“We have also heard the views of local representatives on this case.
“The demolition of any property requires significant deliberation.
“As this property is part of a wider block, we would also need to consider the residents of adjoining properties in any future decisions.
“We will reflect on the views of all relevant parties in the time ahead.”
Brandon Rainey, 27, of James Street, has been charged with murder and attempting to prevent the burial of the 21-year-old’s body.
He denies both charges and is due in court again later this month.
The disappearance of Chloe Mitchell prompted a series of extensive searches around Ballymena before her remains were found in June 2023.