Ruth Lawrence, aged 46, has been convicted of the double murder of two Dublin men, Eoin O’Connor and Anthony Keegan, following a trial at the Central Criminal Court. The jury delivered a majority verdict of 111 on the charges against her, determining that she played a significant role in the killings which occurred in 2014.
Background of the Murders
The bodies of O’Connor and Keegan were discovered bound and buried on an island in Lough Sheelin, in the midlands of Ireland. The prosecution argued that Lawrence, in collaboration with her boyfriend Neville van der Westhuizen, had lured O’Connor, a drug dealer, to their residence before murdering him.
Details of the Case
Evidence in the trial indicated that O’Connor had been dealing drugs to van der Westhuizen, who owed him approximately €70,000. The prosecution framed the murders as a calculated act, supported by testimony from a key witness, Stacey Symes, who revealed Lawrence’s admission regarding the shooting of O’Connor.
The jury heard that the two men were last seen alive shortly after Lawrence had expressed interest in taking a boat out on Lough Sheelin. Following the murders, Lawrence fled to South Africa. She was extradited back to Ireland in May 2023 after living in fears for her safety.
Legal Proceedings and Testimonies
During the trial, Lawrence maintained her innocence, pleading not guilty to the charges. However, the jury found her complicit, agreeing there was sufficient evidence that both Lawrence and van der Westhuizen acted together in the murders. While van der Westhuizen is currently serving a 15year prison sentence in South Africa for unrelated crimes, plans for his extradition to face trial in Ireland are pending.
Verdict and Implications
The jury deliberated for nearly seven hours before reaching their decision. Justice Hunt emphasized that the evidence strongly indicated Lawrence’s involvement, noting that she had effectively assisted in the killings as part of a joint enterprise. The prosecution described the actions of Lawrence and van der Westhuizen as a coordinated effort to eliminate their targets.
Both Lawrence and van der Westhuizen will now face the consequences of their actions, with the legal proceedings marking a significant chapter in a case that has lingered in the public’s mind for nearly a decade.