A 31-year-old man facing murder charges related to the death of Mary Ward has been denied bail. In a Dublin court, it was revealed that Ahmed Abdirahman and the 22-year-old victim, a mother of one, had a “tumultuous relationship.” Mary Ward was discovered deceased in her residence on Melrose Street, south Belfast, on October 1, with a severe neck wound. At the crime scene, authorities found a bloodstained piece of broken glass.
Abdirahman, who hails from Somalia, was apprehended in Dublin on October 9. His case will be heard in Dublin. Although Ms. Ward’s body was located by police on October 1, investigators believe she was murdered on September 25. The day after her death, Abdirahman traveled to Dublin and sought medical treatment at the Mater Hospital for injuries to his arm and leg that he attributed to a fall on broken glass.
During proceedings at Cloverhill High Court, it was disclosed that there exists CCTV footage and evidence including mobile phone records, DNA samples, and fingerprints purportedly tying Abdirahman to the crime. He was arrested in Dublin’s city center after using a Revolut bank card associated with his phone, which is believed to have been discovered at the Belfast crime scene. Text messages retrieved from his phone highlighted ongoing conflicts between him and Ms. Ward.
When initially confronted with the charges, Abdirahman asserted his innocence to the Gardaí (Irish police). Since arriving in Ireland in 2019, he has no prior convictions in any jurisdiction and has also lived in Kenya.
Detective Sergeant James King expressed concerns that Abdirahman might flee the jurisdiction if granted bail. He also noted that Ms. Ward’s phone remains missing and there is apprehension that it could be destroyed if Abdirahman were released.
Judge Caroline Biggs emphasized the strength of the evidence against Abdirahman when she denied bail, stating that there is a significant possibility he would attempt to evade justice. Her decision reflected serious apprehensions about his potential flight risk given the circumstances surrounding the case.
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