The family of a 22-year-old woman who reported being the victim of a “violent crime” weeks before her body was found in her home have vowed to fight for justice.
The PSNI has launched a murder investigation and referred itself to the Police Ombudsman.
Mother-of-one Mary Ward was found dead in a house on Melrose Street, south Belfast, on Tuesday of last week. She was last seen alive on September 25.
She is the fourth woman to have been murdered in Northern Ireland in the last six weeks and the 24th killed since 2020.
Her funeral took place in St Colman’s Church, Lambeg, on Monday. Later that evening police confirmed they were treating her death as murder.
In social media posts, Mary’s sister said she was a “beautiful sister” and vowed that the family would get justice.
A spokesperson for the ombudsman said an investigation will examine how police dealt with a report from Ms Ward of having been the victim of a violent crime weeks earlier.
“Following Ms Ward’s murder, we received a referral from PSNI on Sunday evening. We have completed our initial review and have now commenced an independent investigation,” they said.
“In the weeks prior to her murder, Ms Ward reported to police that she had been the victim of a violent crime. Our investigation will focus on the police response to this report.”
Police say the murder investigation was launched following “extensive investigations” by detectives in the Serious Crime Branch.
The service said it had referred itself to the ombudsman due to a “previous engagement” with the victim.
A police spokesperson said: “Whilst at this time there is no suggestion of individual criminality or misconduct, we are nonetheless concerned about our organisational response.
“Our thoughts at this time are first and foremost with Mary’s 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 September 25. We are keen to speak to anyone who may have seen or been in contact with Mary on or around that date.
“I am asking anyone with any information, no matter how small or insignificant a detail may seem, to please contact us by calling 101.”
South Belfast and Mid Down MP Claire Hanna said it was “tragic” that a young life had been cut short and offered condolences to the family.
“This is another awful reminder of the shocking level of violence against women and girls that causes such harm in our society,” she said.
“That this is the fourth murder of a woman in just six weeks underscores the failure to get to grips with the causes and prevention of this issue, one that leaves Northern Ireland one of the most dangerous places in Europe to be a woman.”
