Courts / Cavan / Report

Jury in woman's double murder trial given majority verdict option

Summary

The jury in the trial of Ruth Lawrence, accused of shooting drug dealer Eoin O'Connor and murder suspect Anthony Keegan, has been allowed to return a majority verdict. The panel of four men and eight women began deliberations on Thursday and have spent eight hours and 21 minutes over three days. Lawrence, 46, pleaded not guilty to both murder charges. The judge, Mr Justice Tony Hunt, explained that a majority verdict could be accepted if at least ten jurors agreed, and that an alternative verdict of "guilty of assisting an offender" could be used only if the jury found her not guilty of murder. The trial has heard statements from protected witnesses Jason and Stacey Symes, who claimed Lawrence told them she had shot O'Connor and that Neville van der Westhuizen, a South African national, was involved.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Jury in woman's double murder trial given majority verdict option. 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 Other
• May 26, 2014 Other
• 2025-11-10 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Drugs Stage Trial Violent Crime

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Read the original CNI report