Judge criticises delay in assessing Mary Ward murder accused

Ryan Dunne

A Central Criminal Court judge has criticised the delay in preparing a psychiatric assessment on a Somalian national accused of the murder of his former partner Mary Ward in Belfast last year.

"I understand the Central Mental Hospital has a resources issue, but this impasse has to be broken by somebody. This can’t go on,” said Mr Justice Paul McDermott, asking both the prosecution and defence teams to establish a timeframe in the case of Ahmed Abdirahman (31).

Mr Abdirahman, originally from Somalia and with a last address at Kinlay house, 4 Lord Edward Street, Dublin, is accused of murdering the young mother on September 25th, 2024, at her house on Melrose Street in south Belfast.

At the Central Criminal Court on Wednesday, counsel for the State, Antonia Boyle BL said that the book of evidence had not yet been served on the accused due to mental health concerns.

The court heard from the defence team that the accused is waiting to be admitted to the Central Mental Hospital, and he has failed to engage with a psychiatrist who attempted to see him.

Defence counsel also told the court that there is a jurisdictional issue in the case, as the alleged offence occurred in Northern Ireland, meaning the accused must be given the option to be tried there.

Mr Justice McDermott noted that there was still no diagnosis of the accused, so there was no understanding if he was fit to plead or not. He said that he wanted both the defence and the prosecution to contact the Central Mental Hospital to establish a timeframe as to when the issues will be resolved.

"There has to be some response. I understand the Central Mental Hospital has a resources issue, but this impasse has to be broken by somebody. This can’t go on,” said Mr Justice McDermott.

The matter was put back to July 30th.