A homicide investigation has been launched after a 22-year-old woman was found dead in Belfast.
The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said Mary Ward’s body was found at her home on Melrose Street in the city last Tuesday.
Police believe Ms Ward was last seen alive six days ago, on Wednesday September 25, and want to speak to anyone who had contact with her on or around that date.
Chief Commissioner Lindsay Fisher said Ms Ward is “the fourth woman to be murdered in Northern Ireland in just six weeks”.
“It’s absolutely appalling,” added the senior officer. “Four families have been broken forever by senseless violence.”
Chief Commissioner Fisher said the police had recently revised the ‘Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Action Plan’ and their response to this form of crime was now aligned with ‘that of the terrorism and serious and organized crime”.
“The level of violence and loss in Northern Ireland demands nothing less,” he added.
“We are absolutely determined to relentlessly pursue the perpetrators of these crimes.”
