Man, 26, charged with murder of Mary Ward in Belfast

A 26-year-old man has been charged in relation to the murder of Mary Ward.

He is expected to appear before the Criminal Courts of Justice in Dublin at 10:30 this morning.

Ms Ward, 22, was found dead in her home at Melrose Street on 1 October with wounds to her neck.

Her body was found by police officers who went to her house – but it is believed she was killed on 25 September.

The PSNI had been contact with her on a number of occasions in the weeks beforehand.

This began on 4 September when she made a complaint to the police about being the victim of violence.

The last contact it had with the mother-of-one was on 25 September.

Officers said following a review of its previous engagements with Ms Ward the case had been referred to the Police Ombudsman.

Details of the murder investigation were not released until just before midnight on Monday.

Police believe Ms Ward was last seen alive on 25 September.

An Garda Síochána (Irish police) have taken charge of the case.

In a statement the PSNI said: “The joint investigation into the death of Mary Ward will now be led by An Garda Síochána 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.