Wednesday 28 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 4690Murder

Defence urges jury to distrust witnesses in Ruth Lawrence murder trial

Ruth Lawrence, a 46-year-old woman, is on trial for murdering Anthony Keegan (33) and Eoin O'Connor (32), whose bodies were found bound in rope and tape and covered in tarpaulin on Inchicup Island on Lough Sheelin in the midlands. The murders are alleged to have taken place between 22 April and 26 May 2014. Lawrence was extradited from South Africa in 2023 and has pleaded not guilty. The prosecution's closing address on 3 November 2025 said she and her boyfriend acted as a unit to lure a drug dealer to their home. The latest development, on 4 November 2025, is the defence's closing address at the Central Criminal Court, urging the jury not to convict and arguing that the protected witnesses cannot be trusted.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court3 Nov
    2 reports
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Anthony Keegan (33) and Eoin O'Connor (32) were killed, and their bodies were found on a lake island.
  • The prosecution says Lawrence and her boyfriend acted together to lure a drug dealer to their home to murder him.
Where
The bodies were found on Inchicup Island on Lough Sheelin in the midlands.
When
The murders are alleged to have taken place on a date between 22 April 2014 and 26 May 2014, both dates inclusive.
Other details
  • The two men's bodies were bound in rope and tape and covered in tarpaulin.
  • The prosecution says O'Connor sold drugs to the boyfriend, who owed Keegan about €70,000.
Cause
  • The prosecution says Lawrence shot O'Connor in the stomach intending to kill him, and her boyfriend finished him off.
  • The prosecution says Keegan was probably killed first, shot in the back of the head, and that the boyfriend grappled with O'Connor, who was then shot in the head.
  • A key witness said Lawrence told her she had shot O'Connor.
Weapon
A witness said Lawrence carried a little black gun.
Investigation
Two protected witnesses came forward to gardaí in 2014 and gave voluntary statements.
Charges
  • Ruth Lawrence has pleaded not guilty to murdering Keegan and O'Connor.
  • Neville van der Westhuizen was charged in connection with the case, and no one else had been charged.
In court
  • Lawrence was extradited from South Africa in 2023 to face trial.
  • The trial is before Mr Justice Tony Hunt and a jury of four men and eight women at the Central Criminal Court.
  • On 4 November 2025, defence counsel Patrick Gageby SC urged the jury not to convict, arguing that the two protected witnesses downplayed their roles and cannot be trusted.
25 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThe prosecution says Lawrence and her boyfriend acted together to lure a drug dealer to their home to murder him. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatAnthony Keegan and Eoin O'Connor were killed, and their bodies were found on a lake island in the midlands. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe defence barrister urged the jury not to convict the accused, a 46-year-old Dublin woman. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe bodies were found on Inchicup Island on Lough Sheelin. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe bodies of the two men were found on a lake island in the midlands. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe murders are alleged to have taken place on a date between 22 April 2014 and 26 May 2014, both dates inclusive. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe alleged murders took place on a date between 22 April 2014 and 26 May 2014. (irishtimes.com)
  • causeThe two men's bodies were bound in rope and tape and covered in tarpaulin. (irishtimes.com)
  • causeThe prosecution says Lawrence shot O'Connor in the stomach intending to kill him. (irishtimes.com)
  • causeThe prosecution says her boyfriend finished O'Connor off. (irishtimes.com)
  • causeThe prosecution says Keegan was probably killed first, shot in the back of the head. (irishtimes.com)
  • causeThe prosecution says the boyfriend grappled with O'Connor, who was then shot in the head. (irishtimes.com)
  • causeA key witness said Ms Lawrence told her she had shot Mr O'Connor. (irishtimes.com)
  • weaponA witness said Ms Lawrence carried a little black gun. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationTwo protected witnesses came forward to gardaí in 2014 and gave voluntary statements. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeLawrence has pleaded not guilty to murdering Keegan and O'Connor. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeRuth Lawrence has pleaded not guilty to murdering two men. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeMr van der Westhuizen was charged in connection with the case, and no one else had been charged. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtLawrence was extradited from South Africa in 2023 to face trial. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe case is being heard at the Central Criminal Court. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe trial continues before Mr Justice Tony Hunt and a jury of four men and eight women. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtMs Lawrence was extradited from South Africa to face trial in 2023. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe trial was set to continue before Mr Justice Tony Hunt and a jury of four men and eight women. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe prosecution says O'Connor sold drugs to the boyfriend, who owed the deceased man about €70,000. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe defence argued the witnesses downplayed their roles and cannot be trusted. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 4 Nov2025
    In courtirishtimes.com, first report
    Ruth Lawrence murder trial witnesses untrustworthy, argues defence counsel

    Closing defence address in the murder trial of Ruth Lawrence, who has pleaded not guilty. The trial was continuing before Mr Justice Tony Hunt and a jury.

    accused, Ruth Lawrence, 46, female, named, irish (judged from name)Ruth Lawrencevictim, Anthony Keegan, 33, male, irish (judged from name)Anthony Keeganvictim, Eoin O'Connor, 32, male, irish (judged from name)Eoin O'Connoraccused, Neville van der Westhuizen, male, namedNeville van der Westhuizen
  2. 3 Nov2025
    In courtirishtimes.com, first report
    Ruth Lawrence and boyfriend acted as ‘tag team’ to kill drug dealer, murder trial hears

    Reports the prosecution's closing speech in the murder trial of Ruth Lawrence, including its account of the roles of Lawrence and her boyfriend, the motive linked to drug debt, and the trial's jury and judge. The murders are dated only to a period between April and May 2014.

    accused, Ruth Lawrence, 46, female, named, irish (judged from name)Ruth Lawrencesuspect, Neville van der Westhuizen, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Neville van der Westhuizenvictim, Anthony Keegan, 33, male, irish (judged from name)Anthony Keeganvictim, Eoin O'Connor, 32, male, irish (judged from name)Eoin O'Connor