Judge vacates murder trial date as defence psychiatric report remains outstanding

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

Ms Justice Karen O’Connor vacated the planned February 23, 2026 trial date for Ahmed Abdirahman, who is accused of murdering his former partner Mary Ward. The proceedings were reported on January 28, 2026.

At the Central Criminal Court, counsel for the State, Antonia Boyle, asked for the trial date to be vacated. She said there was still no defence psychiatric report and no reality to the trial proceeding on that date.

Defence counsel Oisín Clarke said Mr Abdirahman had remained mute and would not communicate with anyone, although he had spoken to a psychiatrist once before Christmas. He asked the court to keep the trial date but said he could not say whether the matter would be ready to proceed.

The allegation concerns Ms Ward’s death at her home on Melrose Street in south Belfast on September 25, 2024. Ms Justice O’Connor said there was no reality to the matter being ready to proceed and listed it for mention on February 23, 2026.

This report covers an earlier stage of the case. Later developments are not reported here.