Gardaí arrest man, 20s, in connection with murder of Mary Ward in Belfast

Mary Ward is the fourth woman to be murdered in Northern Ireland in just six weeks

Mary Ward, 22, was found dead at her home in Melrose Street in Belfast on Tuesday, October 1. Picture: Alan Lewis/ PhotopressBelfast.co.uk via PA

Gardaí have arrested a man on suspicion of the murder of Mary Ward in Belfast.

Mary Ward, 22, was found dead at her home in Melrose St in Belfast on Tuesday, October 1. She is believed to have last been seen alive on Wednesday, September 25.

On Monday, October 7, detectives from the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) launched a murder investigation into her death.

On Tuesday, October 8, the case was subsequently referred to Northern Ireland's Police Ombudsman because of previous contact between Ms Ward and the PSNI.

The Ombudsman confirmed that Ms Ward had reported to the PSNI in recent weeks stating that she had been the victim of a violent crime.

On Wednesday afternoon, detectives attached to the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation (GNBCI) confirmed they had arrested a man in his 20s on suspicion of Mary Ward's murder. 

The man is currently detained under Section 4 Criminal Justice Act 1984 at a Garda Station in Dublin.

A garda spokesperson confirmed that a murder investigation had commenced "in accordance with provisions under the Criminal Law (Jurisdiction) Act 1976", and that gardaí "continue to work closely with the Police Service of Northern Ireland on this investigation".

On Tuesday, PSNI Detective Chief Superintendent Lindsay Fisher, head of the Public Protection Branch, said Mary Ward had been the fourth woman to be murdered in Northern Ireland in just six weeks.

“This is absolutely appalling. Four families have been shattered forever by meaningless violence," she said.

“As a police service we recently revised our Tackling Violence against Women and Girls (VAWG) Action Plan and adopted the new national framework to align our response to this violence with that of terrorism and serious and organised crime.

Det Chief Supt Fisher said "the level of violence and loss in Northern Ireland demands nothing less".

“We are absolutely determined that we will be relentless in our pursuit of the perpetrators," she added.

PSNI have questions to answer in Mary Ward case – O’Neill

Meanwhile, Stormont’s First Minister has said police have questions to answer regarding their dealings with Mary Ward prior to her murder.

Michelle O’Neill expressed concerns about the case and said she was prepared to meet with Chief Constable Jon Boutcher to discuss the issue.

“I am very concerned, I think we all should be very concerned, the fact that this apparently was reported before she tragically lost her life," Ms O'Neill told reporters in Belfast.

“This is catastrophic that this is happening again in our society so collectively we know that we have a lot of work to do to end violence against women and girls.

“But in terms of the policing response, I think we need to get to the heart of that, what has gone wrong here, questions need to be answered and I am prepared to meet with the chief constable and to work with others in terms of establishing all the facts around this horrific case and another tragic loss of a female life.”