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Dublin woman to go on trial over double murder

Ruth Lawrence is accused of the murder of Anthony Keegan and Eoin O'Connor
Ruth Lawrence is accused of the murder of Anthony Keegan and Eoin O'Connor

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

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

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

She pleaded not guilty to murdering Mr Keegan and Mr O'Connor at an unknown location on a date unknown between 22 April 2014 and 26 May 2014.

Mr Justice Tony Hunt told the jury panel Ms Lawrence originally came from Clontarf but had also lived for a time in Co Cavan and subsequently abroad.

The judge said the Mr Keegan had connections to both the Coolock and Fitzgibbon Street areas.

He said Mr O'Connor had connections to St Teresa's Gardens in Dublin 8 and Coolock.

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

The judge told the potential jurors that the places of concern in the case are Ballyjamesduff in 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.

A jury has been sworn in to hear the case, which is expected to last five weeks.