Murder investigation launched after woman's body found

A execution probe has been launched aft the assemblage of a 22-year-old pistillate was recovered successful southbound Belfast.

Mary Ward was recovered dormant by constabulary officers astatine her location connected Melrose Street connected 1 October.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said that pursuing a reappraisal of its erstwhile engagement with Ms Ward, the lawsuit has been referred to the Office of the Police Ombudsman.

"Whilst astatine this clip determination is nary proposition of idiosyncratic criminality oregon misconduct, we are nevertheless acrophobic astir our organisational response," a PSNI connection said.

Head of Public Protection Branch Det Ch Supt Fisher said that Ms Ward is the 4th pistillate to beryllium murdered successful Northern Ireland successful six weeks.

"This is perfectly appalling. Four families person been shattered everlastingly by meaningless violence," she said.

“As a constabulary work we precocious revised our Tackling Violence against Women and Girls Action Plan and adopted the caller nationalist model to align our effect to this unit with that of coercion and superior and organised crime.

"The level of unit and nonaccomplishment successful Northern Ireland demands thing less.

“We are perfectly determined that we volition beryllium relentless successful our pursuit of the perpetrators.”

Det Ch Insp Foreman, who is starring the Major Investigation Team, added: “Our thoughts astatine this clip are archetypal and foremost with Mary’s loved ones, who person been devastated and are struggling to travel to presumption with this tragic loss."

Police judge Ms Ward was past seen live connected 25 September.

They person appealed for anyone who whitethorn person seen oregon been successful interaction with her astir that day to get successful touch.