It has been just over a week since the US launched strikes on Iran, sparking a conflict that has destabilised the entire Middle East region. The economic impacts are being felt across the world as the America and Israel continue to exchange fire with Iran, which has retaliated by hitting targets in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar, Bahrain, Jordan and Iraq.
As fighting escalates, Iran has warned that it will “set fire” to any ships trying to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, delivering a sudden shock to the global economy. Around 20 per cent of the world’s gas and oil is shipped through the waterway, with the Iranian threat proving highly damaging for global trade.
Ten ships have reportedly already been hit since the conflict began, as a senior adviser to the Iranian military warns it will “not allow a single drop of oil to leave the region”.
The country’s approach has been called ‘economic warfare’, with the action threatening to hit economies across the globe. US president Donald Trump has indicated his military could “take over” the Strait of Hormuz to mitigate the impacts. At present, trade remains almost at a standstill.
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It has been just over a week since the US launched strikes on Iran (AFP/Getty)
In the UK, the situation has prompted similar financial anxiety to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which had a long-standing impact on the cost of living.
Addressing concerns in recent days, prime minister Sir Keir Starmer said: “It is important to acknowledge that work is needed, because people will sense – you will sense, I think – that the longer this goes on, the more likely the potential for an impact on our economy, impact into the lives and households of everybody and every business.”
Shocks to global oil and gas trade can have a direct impact on household finances in ways that are both obvious and subtle. Here is an overview of what could happen in the coming days and weeks:
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Energy bills
Wholesale gas prices have risen by almost 50 per cent since Saturday 28 February, when the conflict began. Although not directly correlated, these rates are a major influence on energy costs in the UK and the level at which Ofgem sets its energy price cap.
The UK imports most of its gas supply from Norway at about 50 per cent, and a further 40 per cent is produced domestically in the North Sea. Meanwhile, Qatar supplies a small amount of liquified natural gas (LNG) to the country, about 1 or 2 per cent.
But despite Britain’s apparent lack of dependence on Gulf-produced gas, impacts on trade there can have massive knock-on effects on prices here.
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Founder of the new Verdant think tank and host of the Macrodose economics podcast, James Meadway, explains: “The impact, although initially it turns up in one market somewhere in the world, it starts to feed into what’s happening everywhere else as well.”
“This is a huge shock, and one that’s feeding already into gas markets in terms of the day to day price that wholesale companies pay, and what households – you and I – will be paying will change in about three months time and it’s likely to go very, very high.”
£160
The amount Iran conflict could add on to energy bills
In good news for UK households, the cap for April to June was set in February, meaning bills are effectively protected until July. The energy regulator announced a seven per cent, or £117, reduction to the figure, broadly in line with Labour’s pledge to cut energy bills by £150 from the start of the new financial year through scrapping an energy efficiency scheme.
The energy price cap sets the maximum amount energy suppliers can charge for each unit of energy for those on a standard variable tariff. It includes most households and is expressed as an annual bill for an average home.
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Ofgem will announce its cap for July to September by 27 May. This could be a steep increase of as much as 10 per cent, or £160, increase due to the situation in the Middle East, energy consultancy Cornwall Insight has warned.
The rise threatens to effectively wipe out the savings Labour was looking to pass to households over the year, however energy bills in this scenario are still lower than they would have been had the government not made the change.
Martin Lewis has urged households to consider a fixed tariff energy deal (Stefan Rousseau/PA) (PA Archive)
In light of the situation, money experts have advised households to take action now to insulate themselves from the worst-case scenario rises. Martin Lewis has urged bill payers to consider a fixed tariff energy deal, which guarantees that customers will pay for their energy at a set rate for a set period of time, usually a year.
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Commenting on the situation, the personal finance guru said: “The end of May is likely crunch time: This is usually when the next Price Cap (July to Sept) is announced. It currently seems very likely it will rise, though just how much all depends on how long lived the current energy price spike is.”
“If rates haven’t dropped back down by May, and it looks like it’ll stay high so the October Price Cap will rise too, and no cheap fixes are available, then things get into real problem territory.”
Petrol
Petrol and diesel prices have hit their highest in nearly 20 months this week, latest data shows, increasing by between 4.68p and 8.59p per litre since Saturday 28 February.
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On average, drivers can now expect 137.51p per litre of unleaded petrol, and 150.97p per litre of diesel, at the pump.
This means the cost of filling up a 55-litre family car has increased by as much as £4.72 in just over a week, with further price rises expected in the coming days.
Commenting, AA president Edmund King has urged UK motorists to consider cutting out “non-essential journeys” as fuel prices rise.
£4.72
How much more it costs to fill a 55-litre car from last week
The rise has been fuelled by a spike in oil prices, which have a significant effect on the cost of wholesale fuel. Brent crude, the global benchmark for oil prices, jumped to over $100 a barrel on Monday for the first time since 2022.
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As with gas, “the price of oil is set internationally”, Mr Meadway says. “If something disrupts global production in some way … then the price of oil globally goes up. Then that turns pretty rapidly into the price you see at the petrol pump.
“This dramatic shock – perhaps the biggest single oil shock ever – that turns pretty rapidly into rising fuel pricing.”
Food
One of the less obvious cost of living impacts that may arise from the ongoing conflict is increasing the price of food and other grocery items, economists warn.
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In the short-term, this is because transport costs will increase as a result of rising oil prices, pushing up the cost of trade. With the UK importing roughly 40 per cent of its food supply, this could have a knock-on effect on the prices on shelves.
“Every bit of that supply chain is relying, typically, on petrol and diesel and bunker fuel to actually move this stuff around. That will turn into, quite likely, rising prices for food fairly rapidly,” says Mr Meadway.
The Strait of Hormuz, through which around 20 per cent of the world’s gas and oil is shipped (MarineTraffic)
But there is a “slightly more obscure” factor that threatens to push up food prices, the economist adds, which is “in many ways more fundamental”. This is the price of artificial fertiliser, which is a key product to the UK’s domestic agriculture.
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Mr Meadway explains: “The Gulf now is one of the world’s largest producers of artificial fertiliser and it does that because a big input to making fertiliser is natural gas, and there’s lots of natural gas in the gulf, so it’s quite cheap for companies to set up there.”
“If fertiliser supplies are disrupted for a period of time … then food prices will start to look pretty dramatic I think.”
As with any global conflict, the ongoing situation is volatile and unpredictable. The worst impacts of the Ukraine war were felt within the first year of Russia’s invasion in February 2022, with inflation peaking at 11.1 per cent in October of that year, and the price cap hitting a record £4,279 in January 2023.
Should the conflict in the Middle East end soon, the worst impacts may be avoided. President Trump has already indicated that his war with Iran may be over “pretty quickly,” but for now the exchange of fire – and consequent disruption the the global economy – continues.
“It’s a bit like being house proud, but of my country– looking after it, keeping it tidy, investing in it, caring for the people in it, looking out for neighbours and making visitors and newcomers feel welcome.” – Zoe, Barnsley, England
Progression
“Carl Schurz said ‘my country, right or wrong. If right, to be kept right. If wrong, to be set right.’ The truth is more involved. A nationalist believes the appearance of supremacy is so important he will attack his own countrymen for criticising it. A patriot will criticise their own country so it can become greater tomorrow than it was yesterday.” – William, US
Shared humanity
“Patriotism is not wrapping yourself in your country’s flag; it’s wrapping yourself in your shared humanity.” – Gary, Rhode Island, US
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A quieter, enduring love
“Patriotism isn’t loud. It’s not about flags or anthems and proving who loves their country most. For me, it’s a quieter and enduring love. The kind that stays, even when things aren’t perfect. Patriotism is caring enough to see what’s wrong and still believe we can do better. It’s shown in small things –helping a neighbour, listening, choosing kindness when anger would be easier. True patriotism doesn’t draw lines between people. It asks only that we care enough to build something worth belonging to. Because love of country isn’t shouted. It’s shown – in hope, in effort, and in how we treat each other, irrespective of our origins.” – Brian, Portishead, England
Duty and understanding
“Patriotism is the feeling of love for your country. However, like conventional love, the feeling is not unconditional and, to be sustainable, should not be all encompassing. Patriotism is understanding that your country has a history, some of which can be celebrated, some of which should be addressed critically and all of which can be learnt from. Patriotism is understanding that your country is alive, ever changing. Patriotism is understanding that while you had no role in being born in the country you consider home, it is your duty to look to help shape and improve it.” – Richard, Croydon, England
Setting a positive example
“Patriotism for me is a sense of flying my own personal flag for those before me – my late mum and grandmother – and being a positive role model for my daughters. Caring for Mother Earth as much as possible, continuing to be charitable to those in my community.”– Joanna, Essex, England
“As a biracial child growing up in the UK in the 1970s I’ve already been told that [certain patriotic] symbols are not mine. Moving from England to Scotland as an adult again reinforced what I am not. So without much sense of conventional patriotism, I try to be a useful citizen of planet Earth; through work, through actions, through care.”– Devinder, Scotland
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Kindness
“It means embracing all that is kind and welcoming in our country, striving to rescue our natural habitats from capitalism and to rescue our human population from the scourge of social media. It’s about smiling and saying hello to anyone and everyone.”– Ann, Bishop’s Stortford, England
Being welcoming
“For me, patriotism is the land. I love the English countryside, the trees, meadows, moors and beaches – that is where I feel my peace, belonging and roots, and what I want to protect. This land should be welcoming to anyone who loves and cares for it and wants to belong here, no matter where they were born or what their race or religion is. Love is all that matters.”– James, England
“I recently became an immigrant and I’ve been overwhelmed by how welcoming my new home is. In turn I’ve done my best to return that love through voluntary work, donating to local causes, and being there for my neighbours when they need help. I don’t speak the local language yet but despite that, I feel a stronger sense of belonging here than I ever have before.”– Gem, Berlin
Aiming high
“Patriotism means wanting the UK to be the best, cleanest and fairest it can be, with no one or nowhere left behind.”– Candida, West Sussex, England
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Preserving identity
“I think being patriotic means preserving our country’s unique identity. It can mean learning and teaching our local history, folk songs, arts and crafts… and also looking after our local wildlife.”– Beth, Lancashire, England
Main image: Saj Shafque / Unsplash
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Steam mops for hard floors are a familiar concept but the Bissell Revolution HydroSteam is the first wet, upright consumer carpet cleaner with an integrated steam function. It performs its headline party trick by forcing steam into dirty carpets via a bank of 27 steam nozzles, located in front of, and underneath, its fixed, dual-brush roll assembly.
The overall weight is heavier than Bissell’s Pet Pro (reviewed below) and while still manoeuvrable, a trip up the stairs does require some extra bicep action. The steam functionality also doesn’t extend to the supplied accessory tools.
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Operation is incredibly simple, however, with three choices. The first is the SteamWash Max mode, which is activated by pulling a trigger to dispense steam, water and cleaning formula. It takes eight hours to fully dry.
The second allows you to soften deeply embedded stains by passing over them in Pretreat (steam-only) mode. Lastly, a faster, water and formula quick dry cleaning mode deals with everyday, light staining and sees carpets dry in around 30 minutes.
The Revolution HydroSteam chews through more cleaning formula than rivals, but on its SteamWash MAX setting, it positively scythed through absolutely all but the toughest of carpet stains in a couple of passes.
Even deeply embedded, dried-in wine stains succumbed to its ministrations, once given a couple of passes of pure steam pre-treatment. In bald performance terms, this machine categorically outperforms every other consumer-grade wet carpet cleaner I’ve tested, no mean feat.
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Key specifications
Weight: 10.2kg
Power: 1,300W
Capacity: 3.8-litre clean water tank; 1.9-litre dirty water tank
A police car and van were parked at an address on Firwood Avenue in Farnworth at around 9am this morning (March 12).
One resident, who does not want to be named, said they spotted six officers who were “kicking the front door” before heading around the back with a battering ram.
They said: “I was asleep and heard banging and kicking, looked out, and the police were kicking the front door.
“They then went round the back with the big red key.
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Residents woke up to police ‘banging and kicking’ a door (Image: Public)
“We don’t know what’s happened and we never see them neighbours, so it’s unusual for this street – we never have anything like this, it’s a quiet street.”
They said the van was still sitting outside the property half an hour later and police were seen coming out of the home with blue gloves on.
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) were contacted for a comment and said that they were responding to a “concern for welfare report” at the property.
The council issued a fresh update on the historic Glasgow building today in what is a devastating blow for the city.
12:57, 12 Mar 2026Updated 13:02, 12 Mar 2026
The remaining section of the historic Glasgow building that was devastated by a fire will have to be demolished.
Glasgow City Council said that what is left of the iconic Victorian structure will be bulldozed completely “in the interests of public safety”.
The fire began in a vape shop in Union Street on Sunday and spread through the building and around the corner, where only the facade of the B-listed building at the junction with Gordon Street was left standing.
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The blaze forced neighbouring Glasgow Central Station, Scotland’s busiest railway station, to close. The lower level of the station is running services again but authorities say the main part of the station will remain shut for the rest of the week.
An updated statement from Glasgow City Council reads: “We are now in control of the Union Street site, and after a full and final assessment of the remaining structure, our Building Standards team have decided that demolition must happen in the interests of public safety.
“Scottish Fire and Rescue Service are still on site to take care of remaining hot spots.”
We’ll be bringing you the very latest updates, pictures and video on this breaking news story.
UNITED NATIONS (AP) — U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran have damaged at least four cultural and historical sites, including palaces and an ancient mosque, raising alarms about the impact of the widening war on protected landmarks that are important to Iranian identity and world history.
The speed and extent of the damage have so concerned Iran and Lebanon that they sent a request to the United Nations’ cultural agency, UNESCO, this week to add more sites to its enhanced protection list.
UNESCO confirmed that it has verified damage to the lavish Qajar-era Golestan Palace in Tehran as well as the 17th century Chehel Sotoun palace and the Masjed-e Jāme, the country’s oldest Friday mosque, both in Isfahan. There also was verified damage at buildings close to the Khorramabad Valley, which includes five prehistoric caves and one rock shelter providing evidence of human occupation dating to 63,000 B.C.
At Golestan Palace, shattered glass from the mirrored ceilings blanketed the floors alongside broken archways, blown-out windows and damaged molding scattered below its glass-mosaic walls, according to Associated Press video taken March 3.
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UNESCO said it provided all parties to the conflict with the geographical coordinates of the heritage sites ahead of time, “to take all feasible precautions to avoid damage.”
The impact to cultural sites has not been isolated to Iran but has been felt across the Middle East and beyond, with UNESCO tracking damage to the White City in Israel, Tyre in Lebanon and elsewhere.
Collateral damage to such places has been part of the fabric of war for decades, including in conflicts between Russia and Ukraine as well as Israel and Hamas, in which dozens of sites have been damaged or destroyed.
“What is happening is clear to all: In these increasingly modern conflicts, it’s civilians who pay the price, it’s civilian infrastructure that pays the price, and we’ve all seen the destruction of priceless historical heritage,” U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said this week.
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Damage to history
Human rights advocates are echoing that sentiment, warning that the Iran war not only has killed more than 1,000 people but upended the institutions and historical places that communities rely on.
“It causes harm to civilians because it damages or destroys a piece of their history that can be significant both to the world and also to a specific region or community,” said Bonnie Docherty, senior researcher in the arms division at Human Rights Watch. “It undermines the sort of shared identity of a local community, which can often be important for bringing people together.”
Arash Azizi, who grew up in Iran before moving to the U.S. as an adult, said that because his family couldn’t afford to travel abroad when he was a child, they visited historical sites across the country. This, he says, is how he learned about his cultural identity and history.
“At times where school kids are killed, when human life is at stake, when the stakes are very high, people might think, ‘What are a couple of broken tiles or broken glasses?’” the 38-year-old New York resident said.
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“I think this is the wrong attitude,” he added. “We need a cultural context. We need to know who we are, and where we come from, and what does it all mean?”
Iranian American sees one damage site as deeply personal
For Shabnam Emdadi, a 35-year-old Iranian American also in New York, the damage to the Safavid-era Chehel Sotoun Palace in Isfahan is deeply personal. She traveled there with her dad a few years before he died.
“Those Iran trips with him were my most fond memories of him at his happiest, where he felt most at home and alive, and I’ll never forget them,” Emdadi said. “Which is why every day when I see the damage of these sites that are the core of my memories, I feel like I am also losing a piece of him.”
It was unclear if it was U.S. or Israeli strikes that caused the damage. The Pentagon did not provide comment. The Israeli Defense Forces said it was “unfamiliar” with claims of damage to UNESCO sites.
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One nonprofit group pointed to U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth saying last week that America’s approach to the war would not include “stupid rules of engagement.”
“That’s an extremely important statement because it’s those rules of engagement that embody international humanitarian law, which is not just the protection of cultural heritage, but the protection of all civilian populations and structures, including your hospitals, your schools, etc.,” said Patty Gerstenblith, president of the U.S. Committee of the Blue Shield, an international organization dedicated to protecting heritage in conflict, disaster and crisis.
UNESCO’s protections
The affected sites are among the nearly 30 Iranian sites designated as under special protection as part of UNESCO’s World Heritage list.
Other notable landmarks on the list include the Great Wall of China, the Egyptian pyramids, the Taj Mahal and the Statue of Liberty.
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The agency’s World Heritage Committee annually designates sites considered “of outstanding value to humanity” and intervenes when sites are in danger of destruction or damage. The program provides countries with technical assistance and professional training to preserve the sites.
The White House cited similar concerns as it did in 2018, saying it believes U.S. involvement is not in its national interest and accusing the agency of promoting anti-Israel speech. The decision won’t go into effect until December.
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Associated Press writer Giovanna Dell’Orto in Minneapolis contributed to this report.
This year’s report, Unfair To Care 2026 – ‘Signs of Change’ comes as Scotland approaches the May 2026 Scottish Government election, which presents a pivotal moment for all political parties to commit to improving support for people with learning disabilities and autistic people.
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Community Integrated Care, a national social care charity with services based in West Lothian, has published the fifth edition of its landmark Unfair To Care report, once again calling for fair pay for the social care sector.
This year’s report, Unfair To Care 2026 – ‘Signs of Change’ comes as Scotland approaches the May 2026 Scottish Government election, which presents a pivotal moment for all political parties to commit to improving support for people with learning disabilities and autistic people.
This includes investing in a robust social care workforce that enables independence, safety and quality of life for tens of thousands of people who draw on social care, across Scotland.
The report highlights data from the National Care Forum’s national pay benchmarking exercise of the sector, which reveals an existing unfair pay gap of 15% between social care support workers in Scotland and NHS Scotland Band 3 employees on baseline pay rates – a stark difference of £3,822 per year.
Community Integrated Care warns that, without urgent intervention, the sector will struggle to attract and retain skilled professionals, limiting Scotland’s ability to deliver truly person‑centred care and undermining efforts to tackle health inequalities.
Sara Murphy, Managing Director for Scotland at Community Integrated Care, “Unfair To Care 2026 – ‘Signs of Change’ makes one thing abundantly clear: Scotland cannot continue to deliver the inclusive, compassionate and high‑quality support people deserve without a social care workforce that is valued and fairly paid.
“Every day, our colleagues provide skilled, life‑changing support in communities across Scotland, yet they continue to face a persistent and unacceptable pay gap.
“As we approach the 2026 Scottish Government election, we have a vital opportunity to change this. We’re calling on all political parties to recognise the true value of social care and commit to long‑term investment, pay parity with equivalent NHS Scotland roles, and a clear, sustainable career pathway for our workforce.
“Closing the unfair pay gap isn’t just the right thing to do for the hundreds of thousands of dedicated care workers across Scotland, it’s essential for the people we support, for their families, and for Scotland’s ambition to create a fairer, healthier and more inclusive society.”
Tauseef, a person supported by Community Integrated Care, added: “It’s good to see some recognition of how vital Support Workers are, and the difference they make in enabling people with support needs to live our lives and do the things we enjoy.
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“But if I’m honest, we’re still a long way from where we need to be.”
“Support workers are still not being paid fairly, and too many are going without the proper support and training they deserve. People with lived experience like me are still not being listened to in the way we should be.
“Every person with a disability deserves truly great support – but right now, that’s not the reality for enough of us. That’s exactly why our Unfair To Care campaign matters so much, and why there is still so much more work to do.”
Police uncovered the drugs farm during a raid this morning
GMP: Inside a cannabis farm busted by police in Rochdale
A cannabis farm was uncovered in Rochdale this morning as part of a huge police crackdown in the town.
Raids were carried out earlier today (Thursday, March 12) as part of Operation Avro – Greater Manchester Police’s ‘monthly blitz on local crime’. Officers stormed a property on Reed Hill and uncovered the cannabis farm.
Pictures showed a large number of cannabis plants inside the property. A cordon was put in place across the street as police probed the scene for evidence.
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A spokesperson for GMP said: “As part of #OpAVRO, officers executed a warrant at a property in #Rochdale and uncovered a cannabis farm. Illegal cannabis farms are far from harmless.
“They are frequently linked to organised crime, dangerous electrical setups, and the exploitation of vulnerable people. If you suspect one in your area, please report it.”
Officers carried out a number of other ‘targeted raids’ across the town this morning as part of Operation Avro. One arrest was made after suspected class A drugs were found inside a property.
Assistant Chief Constable Steph Parker said: “So far this morning it’s been hugely successful, a huge cannabis farm has been found, multiple drugs have been seized. We move on this afternoon to our traffic operation and we look forward to engaging with the communities of Rochdale.”
Kim Jong Un has been photographed firing guns with his teenage daughter as part of a drive by the dictator to modernise North Korea’s military.
Pyongyang propaganda published on Thursday showed the tyrant and his child, Kim Ju Ae, testing a “new-type pistol” during an inspection of a light munitions factory.
He said the factory played “a very important role in increasing the combat efficiency” of North Korea’s army, and hailed the firearm as a “really excellent pistol”, a regime mouthpiece reported.
Mr Kim also called for the facility to expand its production and ordered a new production line be established.
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Image: Pic: KCNA/AP
In photos, both the dictator and his daughter could be seen in black leather jackets firing guns, with the girl doing so alongside senior military figures.
The visit comes amid a push to modernise North Korea’s conventional forces after years of focusing on nuclear weapons.
Last month, state media showed Kim Ju Ae testing a sniper rifle as her father presented the weapons to senior regime officials.
And on Tuesday, the duo watched the test launch of what Pyongyang said were nuclear-capable cruise missiles, fired from a naval destroyer.
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Since her debut in November 2022, speculation has mounted that Kim Ju Ae is being groomed for future leadership.
South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) said it believes the girl, thought to be around 13 years old, is already providing input on policy matters.
Image: Kim Jong Un, accompanied by his daughter Kim Ju Ae, visits a munitions factory in North Korea. Pic: Reuters
Image: Kim Jong Un visits a munitions factory in North Korea. Pic: Reuters
The teenager has been increasingly visible over the last year, attending missile launches alongside her father and, in 2025, at China’s “Victory Day” parade, which marked her international debut.
The agency concluded, therefore, that she “was in the stage of being internally appointed successor”.
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She has also accompanied her father during a number of high-profile visits, including to his first summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in six years.
North Korea’s military muscle-flexing comes after Kim Yo Jong – Mr Kim’s sister and senior official – threatened a response to US-South Korean military drills that got under way this week.
It has been reported that she warned the drills reveal the US and South Korea’s “inveterate repugnancy toward” North Korea, and threatened Pyongyang will “convince the enemies of our war deterrence.”
The 11-day US-South Korean drill that began Monday is largely a computer-simulated command post exercise and will be accompanied by a field training programme.
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It comes after Mr Kim said last month that North Korea could “initiate arbitrary action” and “completely destroy” South Korea if its security was threatened.
He added that South Korea’s “complete collapse cannot be ruled out”.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung responded at the time by saying the value his country needs to espouse is peace.
THE case of a Co Antrim man accused of the murder of Chloe Mitchell almost three years ago took a dramatic twist today (Thursday) when his legal team withdrew from it citing “professional compromise”.Brandon John Rainey (29), formerly of James Street, Ballymena, was due to be re-arraigned at Belfast Crown Court on a charge of murdering the 21-year-old and preventing the lawful burial of her remains on June 3, 2023.His senior counsel, Neil Connor KC, told the court two weeks ago that he had fresh instructions from Rainey, who would now plead not guilty to murder but guilty to “manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility”.Rainey was produced today (Thursday) from Maghaberry Prison to court for his scheduled re-arraignment hearing with the public gallery packed with the victim’s family, relatives and friends.Uniformed police officers were in attendance in the courtroom along with civilian security guards.As Rainey appeared in the dock escorted by a number of prison officers, Ms Mitchell’s distressed mum Georgina ran out of the court.Mr Connor said that at this moment in time he represents the defendant Brandon Rainey.“Unfortunately, I have an application to make to the court this morning and that application is to withdraw from the case,” he told Madam Justice McBride.He said not only was he withdrawing from the case, but so was his junior Neil Moore and their instructing solicitors James Ballentine & Sons.“There are two aspects to this: one is that we are professionally compromised and secondly the accused, during consultation at court this morning, indicated that he no longer wished us to represent him,” explained Mr Connor.“To that extent, the client lawyer relationship has broken down irretrievably in this case.“I appreciate it is disappointing at this late stage but I have to make this application on those two grounds. I don’t make this application lightly,” he added.Madam Justice McBride enquired of Mr Connor if the defendant had indicated that he had spoken to any other legal team.Mr Connor replied: “Yes, he has, My Lady. He has spoken to a firm of solicitors, and I can indicate that they have, within the past few minutes, been in contact with my learned junior Mr Moore.
“They have indicated they are not intending to take instructions in this case if the defendant approached them. Ultimately, that is a matter for the accused.“Mr Rainey had been in quite substantial contact with them over the last couple of days, which we were not aware of. So this has obviously been brewing for some period of time.“So it is on the basis of a breakdown, a complete breakdown, of the client lawyer relationship, and also there is an aspect of professional compromise in this case.”Said Madam Justice McBride: “This is a very unfortunate turn of events, but in light of what you have outlined to the court, because you are professionally embarrassed and the breakdown of the client-lawyer relationship, I will accede to your application.”The senior judge said the case had been expected to proceed and it was one of the cases that was granted an exemption due to the withdrawal of services by the Criminal Bar Association in Northern Ireland.Madam Justice McBride said she would list the matter for Monday, March 16, 2026, to allow the defendant time to secure a fresh legal team to represent him.“To assist in you in that, I am going to ensure and ask that the solicitors have all of the papers in a state of readiness to give it to any new solicitor that maybe instructed.”Mr Connor said his instructing solicitors had indicated that the papers will be boxed up and ready to go today (Thursday).Senior prosecutor David Russell KC said he understood the professional compromise by the defence and said Rainey should be produced in person in court next Monday along with any new legal team he has securedMadam Justice McBride told the defendant that he would be produced next Monday in person and she expected an update on his legal representation and if in the meantime he speaks to a new firm of solicitors who are willing to represent him they should also attend court on Monday on his behalf.As Rainey was being led out of court in handcuffs by prison officers, some members in the public gallery shouted at him “scum”, “scum b******d”, ”rat” and “cowardly b******d” before they were ushered out of court by police and civilian security guards.Chloe Mitchell’s remains were found days after she went missing.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 launched by the PSNI.Detectives investigating her disappearance later launched a murder inquiry after human remains were discovered in the Co Antrim town.This led officers to attend a flat in the James Street area of the town which prompted Rainey’s arrest.
