Courts / Cavan / Report

Jury considering verdicts for second day in Ruth Lawrence double murder trial

Summary

In the Central Criminal Court, a jury of 12 deliberated for 1 hour 22 minutes on the second day of the trial of Ruth Lawrence, aged 46, accused of murdering drug dealer Eoin O'Connor (32) and drug dealer Anthony Keegan (33) between 22 April and 26 May 2014. Lawrence, extradited from South Africa in 2023, pleaded not guilty. The prosecution alleged that Lawrence and her boyfriend Neville van der Westhuizen acted as a "unit" and "tag team", luring O'Connor to their home and shooting him, and that van der Westhuizen also shot Keegan. Two protected witnesses, Jason and Stacey Symes, testified that Lawrence told Stacey she had shot O'Connor but that Neville "took over", and that they were asked to move the bodies.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Jury considering verdicts for second day in Ruth Lawrence double murder trial. Charges or matters: murdering Mr Keegan and Mr O'Connor at an unknown location within the State on a date between April 22, 2014 and May 26, 2014, both dates inclusive. Procedural stage: trial

When:

• April 22, 2014 Hearing Or Sentence
• May 26, 2014 Hearing Or Sentence
• 2025-11-07 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Drugs Stage Trial Violent Crime

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Read the original CNI report