The trial of a Somali man who is charged with murdering Mary Ward in her Belfast home almost two years ago will commence next year. 

Ahmed Abdurahim (33) of Lord Edward Street, Dublin 2, denies murdering the young mother with whom he had been involved in a romantic relationship.

Ms Ward’s remains were found at her home on Melrose Street, South Belfast, in September 2024.

Today, Mr Justice Paul McDermott, sitting at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin, gave the trial a start date of the 11th of January 2027.

At a previous mention date, defending counsel Oisin Clarke BL told the court that his client was “not engaging” with a psychiatrist acting on behalf of his defence team; however, at a more recent mention, Justice McDermott heard that this obstacle had “melted away”.

The accused, who came to Ireland in 2019 and previously lived in Kenya, was denied bail at a previous court appearance after Ms Justice Caroline Biggs deemed that he was likely to attempt to evade justice.

He denies the charge of murder.