Ruth Lawrence trial not ready to start ten years after alleged murder of two 'inseparable friends'
by Eoin Reynolds · Irish MirrorThe trial of a Dublin woman who is accused of murdering two "inseparable friends" is not ready to proceed more than ten years on from the date of the alleged offence and over a year after a date for her trial was set.
Ruth Lawrence (42), who is originally from Clontarf, is accused of the murder of Anthony Keegan (33) and Eoin O'Connor (32), who were found in plastic sheeting on Inchicup Island on Lough Sheelin near the Meath-Cavan border on May 26, 2014.
On October 24 last year, Mr Justice David Keane scheduled a trial date of October 7, 2024 after being told the matter is expected to last three weeks. However, on October 7 last the State said Ms Lawrence's lawyers had not yet received full disclosure.
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At the Central Criminal Court this morning (TUE) Michael O'Higgins SC for the Director of Public Prosecutions told Ms Justice Karen O'Connor that disclosure has still not been completed.
James Dwyer SC, for Ms Lawrence, said there are "a number of matters outstanding" and he therefore does not know when the trial will be ready to go ahead. Ms Justice O'Connor adjourned the matter for mention to November 21.
In May, 2023 Ms Lawrence was charged with two counts of murder on an unknown date between April 22 and May 26, 2014, when gardaí were alerted to the discovery of the men's bodies. The bodies were found after a fisherman on the lake identified a smell coming from the tiny island.
At their June 2014 funeral, mourners were told that the two deceased men had been "inseparable" friends.
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