Woman (45) on trial charged with double murder

Alison O'Riordan

A 45-year-old Dublin woman will go on trial on Thursday charged with the double murder of two men over a decade ago.

Ruth Lawrence, who is originally from Clontarf, is accused of the murder of Anthony Keegan (33) and Eoin O'Connor (32).

Ms Lawrence with an address at Patricks Cottage, Ross, Mountnugent in Co Meath was arraigned before the Central Criminal Court this evening.

Ms Lawrence pleaded not guilty to murdering Mr Keegan and Mr O'Connor at an unknown location within the State on a date unknown between April 22, 2014 and May 26, 2014, both dates inclusive.

On Wednesday Mr Justice Tony Hunt swore in a jury of three men and nine women to hear the trial, which will begin today and is expected to last until November 14th.

The prosecution case is being led by senior counsel Michael O'Higgins, while Patrick Gageby SC is heading up the defence team.

Addressing the jury panel this evening, Mr Justice Hunt said Ms Lawrence originally comes from Clontarf but had also lived for a time in Co Cavan and subsequently abroad.

The judge said the deceased Mr Keegan had connections to both the Coolock and Fitzgibbon Street areas. He said the second deceased Mr O'Connor had connections to St Teresa's Gardens in Dublin 8 and Coolock.

Mr Justice Hunt informed the potential jurors that members of the Keegan and O'Connor families will be giving evidence in the case. He said the matter was principally investigated by officers from Kells Garda Station in Co Meath. The missing persons aspect of the case was dealt with by gardaí from Santry, he added.

The judge said the jurors would hear evidence from people attached to forensic laboratories as well as pathologists and mobile phone analysts.

Mr Justice Hunt said Neville van der Westhuizen had lived at the relevant time and for a number of years in the area of Lough Sheelin in Co Cavan. He said Mr van der Westhuizen's father will be a brief witness in the case.

The judge told the potential jurors that the places of concern in the case are Ballyjamesduff in Co Cavan and an area of Lough Sheelin, which he said "butts onto" the counties of Cavan, Meath and Westmeath.

He went on to say it was a property principally on the Westmeath side of the lake which was of relevance in the case.