Murder trial date vacated as psychiatric report remains outstanding

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 February 23 trial date for Ahmed Abdirahman, who is accused of murdering Mary Ward in Belfast in September 2024. The court heard there was still no defence psychiatric report and the prosecution said the trial could not realistically proceed as scheduled.

Defence counsel said Abdirahman had remained mute and had not communicated with anyone, though he spoke to a psychiatrist once before Christmas. The case is listed for mention on February 23.