Jury in trial of Ruth Lawrence sent away due to significant witness 'in medical situation'

Alison O'Riordan

The jury in the trial of a woman accused of murdering two men whose bodies were found on a lake island over a decade ago has been sent away until Thursday morning, having been told that a significant witness "is in a medical situation" and that all sides will need to consider whether the trial can continue in their absence

Ruth Lawrence (45), who is originally from Clontarf in Dublin but with an address at Patricks Cottage, Ross, Mountnugent in Co Meath has pleaded not guilty to murdering Anthony Keegan (33) and Eoin O'Connor (32) at an unknown location within the State on a date between April 22nd, 2014, and May 26th, 2014, both dates inclusive.

Addressing the 12 jurors on Tuesday, trial judge Mr Justice Tony Hunt said that late on Monday it came to the prosecution's attention that a key witness, who is "significant to both sides in the case" - "is in a medical situation."

"That's really all that needs to be said. We don't have full details of that, and it has to be ascertained," he said.

He said "the unforeseen and unforeseeable happen in everyone's lives" and that he didn't want to go into too much detail.

"When the details are ascertained, the parties will need to consider the information and how it bears on the availability of the witness and whether the trial can continue in their absence. There are a number of moving parts to all that," continued the judge.

Mr Justice Hunt told the jury of four men and eight women that he might bring them in on Wednesday, but expected further information to be forthcoming.

The judge told the panel that he and the legal teams would come to court on Wednesday in their absence and that he would bring them back on Thursday morning, when he had further information for them.

"I don't want you to go guessing as to what might happen. We need to delve into the matter a little bit further," he said.

Mr Justice Hunt apologised to the jurors but said there was nothing anyone could do and that "these things happen in the course of human affairs".

The judge asked the panel to put the case to one side until Thursday morning.

In his opening address, Michael O'Higgins SC, prosecuting, told the jury that the State would argue that Ms Lawrence shot drug dealer Mr O'Connor and worked "as a unit" with her boyfriend to kill him and another man, with their bodies later found "bound in rope, tape and covered in tarpaulin" by fishermen on Inchicup Island on May 26th, 2014.

Counsel for the State said the 12 jurors would hear evidence that the accused woman shot one of the two men, but this was not immediately fatal and was "quickly followed up" by a shot from the defendant's boyfriend, South African national Mr Neville van der Westhuizen.

The jurors were also told by Mr O'Higgins that it is the prosecution's case that the accused woman and her boyfriend had "spoken openly" about "the murders and disposing of the bodies"