Member's statement: Chloe Mitchell: Trial Date
Member's statement by Mr Paul Frew on .
- MLA
- Mr Paul Frew
- Party at the time
- Democratic Unionist Party
- Date
- 16 February 2026
- Type
- Member's statement
- Business
- Members' Statements
- Heading
- Chloe Mitchell: Trial Date
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 5391009
Read the official Assembly record
Text
There is good news and an answer to prayer in that we found out today that the trial for the murder of Chloe Mitchell is scheduled to start on 9 March. I welcome the exemption of the upcoming trial relating to Chloe's murder. I spoke recently to Chloe's father, George, and I know how much that decision will mean to the wider family. It is right that their search for justice is not further delayed. I know what that family has gone through, trying to prepare for a trial for the murder of their daughter and sister without knowing a start date. I place on record my thanks for the collegiate and combined work of all the elected representatives of North Antrim. We came together to help a family in need and were able to deliver results. That speaks volumes for the work that we can do in our constituencies and in this place. I thank all the elected representatives for coming together. I also thank the Justice Minister for meeting, along with Sian Mulholland, the Mitchell family last week. The family was really thankful for and appreciative of the Minister taking the time to go and hear their story and about how the delay was having a massive impact on their health. I thank, and give credit to, the Justice Minister for that meeting. I welcome the resumption of talks between the Department of Justice and the Criminal Bar Association and the clear commitment to continue that engagement into this week. It is vital that heads come together to resolve the strike action and stop the delay in criminal court cases.
The Mitchell family is only one family caught up in the delay; there are many more who do not know when their trial will start or how they can prepare for it when they do not know a date. It is really important that we come together to find a resolution to the delay. I have sympathy for the Criminal Bar Association; it has warned for so many years about the stress, strains and issues that barristers have been crying out about. It feels as though the Department has not been listening. I appeal to the Justice Minister to meet the CBA, get around the table and resolve the situation for all the families who have been caught up in such heinous crimes.
395 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Assessment
Jev’s structured answers met the documented threshold for “not flagged”.
- Overall probability that the activity is being used to promote, exploit or escalate an identity-based controversy: 0.03 (flagging needs at least 0.70; at or below 0.30 is not flagged).
- None of the five culture-war criteria was met (each was below 0.60).
- Assessed as legitimate policy scrutiny (0.82).
- No identity-based framing was identified (1.00).
- The overall probability was at or below the not-flagging threshold.
This is an AI-generated assessment of the text, made against published criteria. It is not a finding of fact about the MLA or their intentions. The Assembly record itself is the fact.
Jev’s structured answers
| Question | Probability | Met? |
|---|---|---|
| Identity framing | 0.03 | No |
| Sectarian or communal antagonism | 0.02 | No |
| Cultural grievance politics | 0.01 | No |
| Dog-whistle messaging | 0.02 | No |
| Controversy escalation | 0.03 | No |
| Legitimate policy scrutiny | 0.82 | Yes |
| Overall judgement | 0.03 | At or below not-flagging threshold |
| Option | Probability |
|---|---|
| No identity-based framing (chosen) | 1.00 |
| Reports or questions it | 0.00 |
| Criticises or condemns it | 0.00 |
| Adopts it | 0.00 |
| Subject | Probability |
|---|---|
| No identity-related subject | 0.81 |
| Legacy of the Troubles, victims and paramilitarism | 0.09 |
| Gender, sexuality, abortion and related social issues | 0.03 |
| Sexism, misogyny, ageism and other equality groups | 0.03 |
| Disability (including neurodivergence and mental health), disabled people and disability or sickness benefits | 0.02 |
Assessed 21 October 2026 at 14:53 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.
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