Suspect arrested over the murder of Mary Ward was detained after being caught on CCTV topping up his phone in Tesco
The suspect arrested over the murder of 22-year-old mother Mary Ward was detained after being caught on CCTV in a Tesco topping up his phone.
The suspect arrested over the murder of 22-year-old mother Mary Ward was detained after being caught on CCTV in a Tesco topping up his phone.
The body of Ms Ward was found by police in Northern Ireland at her home in Belfast on October 1, with police determining three days later that she had been murdered.
She was last seen alive on September 25, a day during which she spent time in Dungannon, county Tyrone, and Belfast.
It was announced on Wednesday that police had detained a 26-year-old man, who was believed to have crossed the border.
After the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) contacted their counterparts in Dublin for assistance earlier this week, the arrest was made yesterday on Thomas Street in the city.
The body of Mary Ward (pictured) was found by police in Northern Ireland at her home in Belfast on October 1, with police determining three days later that she had been murdered
She was last seen alive on September 25, a day during which she spent time in Dungannon, county Tyrone, and Belfast
Officers had been advised the man had mental health issues and could have been carrying a makeshift weapon.
Gardai previously received information that he had been seen at a Tesco in the south of Dublins inner city on September 28.
He was recorded topping up his phone, which is understood to have played a major role in locating and arresting him.
Confirming the arrest on Wednesday, gardai said they had launched their own murder investigation.
Tributes for the young mother have been posted online, with her family writing that she was much-loved and will always be remembered.
They added: Mary will be loved and missed always by her heartbroken mother, son, sisters, brothers and entire family circle.
PSNI Assistant Chief Constable Davy Beck said officers were still working to establish the exact circumstances of Ms Wards death.
He said: First of all, Id like to express my deepest sympathies to Mary Wards family and friends who are experiencing unbearable suffering knowing that their loved one was taken from them in such a cruel way.
Mr Beck added that Ms Ward had previously reported being the victim of an assault on September 4 and a suspect was arrested and questioned in relation to that incident.
He also said: I am appalled that there has been another murder of a woman in Northern Ireland. Mary is the fourth woman to be murdered in Northern Ireland in just six weeks.
PSNI Assistant Chief Constable Davy Beck said officers were still working to establish the exact circumstances of Mary Wards death
Ms Ward was found at her home in south Belfast, but a suspect has now been arrested in Dublin
This is simply unacceptable and too many women are losing their lives at the hands of men.
Det Chief Insp Foreman, leading the murder investigation, said: Our thoughts at this time are first and foremost with Marys loved ones, who have been devastated and are struggling to come to terms with this tragic loss.
Specialist trained Family Liaison Officers continue to work with the family supporting them through this difficult period.
Whilst our investigation is at an early stage and we are working to establish the exact circumstances, we believe that Mary was last seen alive on Wednesday 25th September.
We are keen to speak to anyone who may have seen or been in contact with Mary on or around that date.
Det Chief Supt Lindsay Fisher, head of the Public Protection Branch, said the PSNI were absolutely determined that they would be relentless in our pursuit of the perpetrators.
Mr Beck outlined the chronology of the PSNIs interactions with Ms Ward. He said police believe she was killed around September 25.
We received a call from the victim on September 4, we responded to that call within minutes, we spoke to the victim, and we recorded an interaction with the victim, he said.
On the basis of that interaction, we followed that up with an arrest of a suspect. That suspect was taken to custody and was interviewed in respect of those issues.
What followed is the issue that concerns us in terms of the organisational response and, in essence, that risk assessment and decisions that were made thereafter in respect of how we dealt with that person.
So thats why we have made that open and transparent referral to the ombudsman (NI Police Ombudsman), and we will await their review of that situation and their considerations in respect of that.
He added: We had a victim who reported an issue to us. We engaged with that victim on that date and on a number of occasions following that, so we want to ensure we learn from those engagements and our considerations around how we protected that victim.
Mr Beck said that when officers found Mary Wards body at her Melrose Street home in Belfast they had been calling there about a matter unrelated to her reported assault at the start of September.
