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Ruth Lawrence Convicted of 2014 Murders of Eoin O’Connor and Anthony Keegan

Sentencing is set for 8 December, with a mandatory life term following majority verdicts reached after nearly 14 hours of deliberation.

Overview

  • The Central Criminal Court jury returned guilty verdicts by majorities of 10–2 and 11–1.
  • The victims’ bodies were found bound and buried in a shallow grave on Inchicup Island on Lough Sheelin five weeks after they went missing.
  • Prosecutors said Lawrence acted as a unit with South African partner Neville van der Westhuizen, citing a €70,000 drug debt and evidence the shootings occurred near Patrick’s Cottage before the bodies were moved.
  • Witnesses Stacey and Jason Symes, now in the Witness Security Programme, testified about Lawrence’s role, testimony the defence attacked as unreliable.
  • Lawrence fled to South Africa and was extradited in May 2023, while van der Westhuizen is serving a 15‑year sentence there and any Irish extradition will wait until his term ends.