Murder trial date vacated as accused remains mute, court hears

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

The Central Criminal Court has vacated the planned February 23, 2026 trial date for Ahmed Abdirahman, who is accused of murdering his former partner, Mary Ward, in Belfast in September 2024. State counsel Antonia Boyle said there was no psychiatric report from the defence and the trial could not proceed on that date.

Defence counsel Oisín Clarke told the court that Abdirahman had remained mute and would not communicate with anyone, though he had spoken to a psychiatrist once before Christmas. Ms Justice Karen O’Connor said the case was not ready for trial. It is next listed for mention on February 23, 2026.