GhLinks Media
Brandon Rainey has been identified the the individual responsible for the murder of Chloe Mitchell, a 21-year-old who was missing for more than a week.
Unemployed Brandon Rainey, is accused of the murder of Chloe on a date unknown between June 2 and June 5 this year.
Brandon Rainey who is 26 years old is from James Street in Ballymena, Co Antrim.
Brandon Rainey appeared in court
As grieving friends and relatives sat in the public gallery, Brandon Rainey, wearing a grey tracksuit, appeared by video link from police custody at Coleraine Magistrates Court sitting in Ballymena, speaking only to confirm he understood the single charge.
Ryan Johnston Gordon, 34, from Nursery Close, Ballymena, appeared in court charged with attempting to impede justice by concealing evidence around the alleged murder of Ms Mitchell.
He was remanded into custody following the brief mention at Ballymena Magistrates’ Court. The court heard a bail application will be made next week on Tuesday, June 20.
Chloe was last seen on CCTV in the early hours of Saturday, June 3 in the town centre of Ballymena, Co Antrim.
Detectives investigating her disappearance launched a murder inquiry yesterday after suspected human remains were found.
In court today, Det. Inspector Foreman gave evidence that she believed she could connect both men to their respective charges.
Rainey’s defence barrister Neil Moore told the court while he was not applying for normal bail, application was for Rainey to be remanded to the secure psychiatric unit at the Shannon Clinic as he is a diagnosed paranoid schizophrenic.
He argued that Rainey should be detained there under the mental health order so that he can be psychiatrically assessed, revealing that Rainey has been an inpatient at the facility before.
DI Foreman said however that police had ‘concerns’ about Rainey going back to the Shannon Clinic as he had escaped from there on three separate occasions.
She argued that psychiatric services and facilities at HMP Maghaberry could be used to identify any psychiatric issues which Rainey may have.
Similarly, Gordon’s defence solicitor Stephen McNamara highlighted that his client also had mental health issues which DI Foreman did not dispute.
He said he was not applying for bail today as ‘there still needs to be some checks done’ before he can lodge an application.
Refusing Mr Moore’s application for Rainey to be held at the Shannon Clinic, DJ King said the police objections ‘are well made’.
‘It’s of note that there have been three reported escapes from that facility… so I’m not minded to return him to anywhere apart from HMP Maghaberry,’ concluded the judge.
Both Rainey and Gordon were remanded into custody and while Rainey’s case was adjourned to July 6, Gordon’s bail application will be heard on June 20.
