Police have launched a murder probe after a 22-year-old woman who had not been seen for six days was found dead in a Belfast home. 

Mary Ward was discovered by officers at her property in Melrose Street in the south of the Northern Irish capital last Tuesday, it has been revealed.

The PSNI police force said she had not been seen since the previous Wednesday. 

Ms Ward is believed to be the fourth woman murdered in the country in the past six weeks. 

The case has been referred to the Office of the Police Ombudsman after a review showing PSNI’s previous engagement with her.

Police have launched a murder probe after discovering the body of Mary Ward, 22 (pictured)

She was found at her home in Melrose Street in south Belfast, the PSNI has revealed

Det Chief Insp Foreman, leading the murder investigation, said: ‘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 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’.

Fisher said: ‘Mary Ward is the fourth woman to be murdered in Northern Ireland in just six weeks.

‘This is absolutely appalling. Four families have been shattered forever by meaningless violence.

‘As a Police Service we recently revised our Tackling Violence against Women and Girls (VAWG) Action Plan and adopted the new national framework to align our response to this violence with that of terrorism and serious and organised crime.

‘The level of violence and loss in Northern Ireland demands nothing less.’

Police urged anyone who can help to call 101, submit information at  www.psni.police.uk/makeareport or contact the independent charity Crimestoppers with anonymity on 0800 555 111 or online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org.

Photos and footage, including CCTV, mobile phone or dash cam footage, can be shared with police through the Major Incident Public Portal at https://mipp.police.uk.