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. 4829Murder · Co. Cavan

Ruth Lawrence murder trial not ready to proceed ten years after deaths of two men

Ruth Lawrence, 42, is accused of murdering Anthony Keegan and Eoin O'Connor, whose bodies were found on Lough Sheelin in 2014. At the Central Criminal Court, the trial was not ready because disclosure had not been completed, and the matter was adjourned for mention to 21 November.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court29 Oct
    2 reports
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
22 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatRuth Lawrence is accused of murdering Anthony Keegan and Eoin O’Connor. (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe two men's bodies were found in plastic sheeting on Inchicup Island on Lough Sheelin, near the Meath-Cavan border. (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe alleged offence took place on an unknown date between April 22nd and May 26th, 2014. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe bodies were found on May 26, 2014. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe murders are alleged to have happened on an unknown date between April 22 and May 26, 2014. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationA fisherman on the lake identified a smell coming from the island, which led to the discovery of the bodies. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationGardaí were alerted after a fisherman on the lake identified a smell coming from the island. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeLawrence was charged in May 2023 with two counts of murder. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeRuth Lawrence was charged with two counts of murder in May 2023. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtMr Justice David Keane scheduled a trial date of October 7th, expected to last three weeks. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtOn October 7th the State said Lawrence's lawyers had not yet received full disclosure. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe trial is not ready to proceed more than 10 years after the alleged offence. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtDisclosure has still not been completed, and the defence does not know when the trial will be ready. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtJustice Karen O’Connor adjourned the matter for mention to November 21st. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtOn October 24 of last year, a trial date of October 7, 2024 was set for an expected three-week trial. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtOn October 7, the State said Ms Lawrence's lawyers had not yet received full disclosure. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe case was heard at the Central Criminal Court on Tuesday morning. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe prosecution told the court that disclosure has still not been completed. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe defence said there are a number of matters outstanding and did not know when the trial would be ready. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe judge adjourned the matter for mention to November 21. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherAt the 2014 funeral, mourners were told the two dead men had been inseparable friends. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherAt their June 2014 funeral, mourners were told the two deceased men had been inseparable friends. (irishmirror.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 29 Oct2024
    In courtirishmirror.ie, first report
    Ruth Lawrence trial not ready to start ten years after alleged murders

    Reports that the trial is not ready to proceed because disclosure is incomplete, that the October 2024 trial date was not kept, and that the matter is adjourned to 21 November. Gives the accused's age and origin and the discovery of the bodies on Inchicup Island.

    accused, Ruth Lawrence, 42, 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'Connor
  2. 29 Oct2024
    In courtirishtimes.com, follow-up
    Trial of woman charged with 2014 murders of two ‘inseparable friends’ not ready to proceed, Central Criminal Court told

    Reports that the trial is not ready to proceed more than ten years after the alleged offence, despite a trial date set for October 7th last, because disclosure is still incomplete; the matter is adjourned for mention to November 21st.

    victim, Anthony Keegan, 33, male, irish (judged from name)Anthony Keeganvictim, Eoin O'Connor, 32, male, irish (judged from name)Eoin O'Connoraccused, Ruth Lawrence, 42, female, named, irish (judged from name)Ruth Lawrence