Man appears in court charged with Belfast murder of Mary Ward

A man has appeared in a Dublin court charged with the murder of Mary Ward in Belfast.

The 22-year-old was found dead at her home on 1 October with neck wounds. Her body was found after police officers went to her house, but she was last seen alive on 25 September, according to police.

Ahmed Abdirahman, who had an address in Dublin, was arrested in the city last Wednesday. The court heard he replied "not guilty" when charged on 11 October.

In a statement, the Police Service of Northern Ireland said: "The joint investigation into the death of Mary Ward will now be led by An Garda Síochána [the Irish police] with continued support from the PSNI."

Under Ireland's Criminal Law (Jurisdiction) Act 1976, a suspect can be charged and tried for offences allegedly committed in Northern Ireland.

The PSNI had been in contact with Ward on a number of occasions before her death. The police ombudsman confirmed it had opened an investigation, as Ward had reported to police that she had been the victim of a violent crime in the weeks before her death.

After her death, PSNI assistant chief constable Davy Beck said: "First of all I'd like to express my deepest sympathies to Mary Ward's family and friends who are experiencing unbearable suffering knowing that their loved one was taken from them in such a cruel way.

"Our specialist trained family liaison officers are continuing to work with the family, providing support at this very difficult time."