'No reality' to trial proceeding as planned for man accused of murdering Mary Ward

Ryan Dunne

There is “no reality” of a trial proceeding as planned for a Somali national charged with the murder of young mother Mary Ward last year, as the accused remains "mute" and there is still no defence psychiatric report, the Central Criminal Court has heard.

Ahmed Abdirahman (31), originally from Somalia and with a last address at Kinlay House, Lord Edward Street, Dublin, is accused of murdering Ms Ward, who was his former partner, on September 25th 2024, at her house on Melrose Street in south Belfast.

The case has come before the courts on a number of occasions, with the legal team for the defence saying that the accused had failed to engage with a psychiatrist who attempted to see him.

At the Central Criminal Court on Wednesday, counsel for the State, Antonia Boyle BL, said that the matter was listed for trial on February 23rd next, but she asked the court to vacate that date as there was “no reality to that proceeding”.

She said that there was still no psychiatric report from the defence, meaning the trial will not be able to proceed on that date.

Defence counsel, Oisin Clarke BL, said there was “a protracted history” to the case, as the accused “remained mute and wouldn’t communicate with anyone”.

The counsel stated that some progress had been made before Christmas, with the accused having spoken to a psychiatrist on one occasion.

Mr Clarke asked the court to keep the trial date but added that he could not say if the matter would be in a position to proceed.

Ms Justice Karen O’Connor said there was no reality to the matter being ready to proceed, so she vacated the trial date.

The matter is now for mention on February 23rd.