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Woman On Trial Over Double Midlands Murder

Thursday, 9 October 2025 16:01

Ruth Lawrence denies murdering both men.

A jury in the trial of a woman accused of double murder has heard both victims were shot in the head.

45-year-old Ruth Lawrence, from Clontarf in Dublin, has pleaded NOT GUILTY to the murder of Eoin O'Connor and Anthony Keegan over ten years ago.

Gardai believe Eoin O'Connor and Anthony Keegan were shot dead on the evening of the 22nd of April 2014.

According to the prosecuting barrister, Ruth Lawrence’s boyfriend, Neville Van der Westhuizen owed Mr O’Connor a significant drug debt.

And on that date, it was claimed that the two men went to meet Mr Van der Westhuizen because Mr O’Connor was coming under pressure to collect.

Mr O’Connor was a drug dealer, while Mr Keegan was said to have accompanied him in a supporting role – in case there was any trouble.

Their bodies were found several weeks later on a small island on Lough Sheelin, which straddles the borders of counties Cavan, Meath and Westmeath.

It is the prosecution’s case that Ruth Lawrence and Neville Van der Westhuizen spoke openly about the murders and of disposing the bodies, and that comments made by her the following day indicate that she was involved.

She denies the charges.

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