Courts / Cavan / Report

Symbiotic: how Ruth Lawrence became a double murderer

Date
2025-11-12

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Ballyjamesduff

County
Cavan

Summary

The Central Criminal Court heard evidence in the trial concerning the 2014 disappearances of Eoin O'Connor and Anthony Keegan. The prosecution alleged that the pair went to Ballyjamesduff, Co Cavan, to collect a debt of approximately €70,000 owed by Jason Symes and South African national Neville van der Westhuizen. Testimony from the O'Connor brothers described attempts to locate the missing men at the homes of Symes and his son, Sean, who reported being threatened by a group of men. The court heard that van der Westhuizen was in a relationship with Ruth Lawrence, with whom he lived in Patrick's Cottage near Lough Sheelin. The prosecution described their relationship as symbiotic and alleged a plan was formed in 2013 to rob drugs from O'Connor's house. While the source text details the trial proceedings and witness accounts, it does not contain the final verdict or sentencing for Ruth Lawrence or Neville van der Westhuizen in this specific instance. However, factual records indicate that Neville van der Westhuizen is currently serving a 15-year sentence in Westville Prison in Durban, having been convicted in 2020 on six counts of kidnapping, attempted murder, and murder. The report does not specify a plea, finding, or sentence for Ruth Lawrence, nor does it detail any adjournments or suspended portions of the sentence.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Symbiotic: how Ruth Lawrence became a double murderer. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

April 22, 2014 Other
April 23 Other
May 24, 2014 Other
Wednesday, April 23 Other
April 22 Hearing Or Sentence
December 2013 Other
Friday April 18 2014 Other
Monday, April 21 Other
April 25 Hearing Or Sentence
April 29 Other
May 18, 2014 Other
May 26 Other
May 27, 2014 Other
2025-11-12 Publication

Why: "Maybe she wanted some shelter but no reason was given," he told the jury. CNI source report

Case subjects

Ruth Lawrence

Applicant

Outcome: Neville van der Westhuizen is currently serving a 15-year sentence in Westville Prison in Durban, having been convicted in 2020 on six counts of kidnapping, attempted murder and the murder.