Eight years after committing the double homicide of two best friends, an Irish woman who had been on the run was apprehended in South Africa.
After the violent murders of Eoin O’Connor and Anthony Keegan in 2014, Ruth Lawrence, 42, of Clontarf in North Dublin, became the target of a worldwide manhunt.
Lawrence is scheduled to appear in court today. The Hawks, an elite South African police squad, claimed they were following an international warrant when they conducted the dawn raid in Pellissier, Bloemfontein, yesterday.
Although he is already serving a life term in South Africa for a horrible murder, her partner is also wanted in connection with the double homicide.
He is currently serving a 15-year sentence in Durban for the 2017 murder of a youngster, but the Hawks will question him in light of Lawrence’s arrest.
He and Lawrence broke up that year.
The two Irish victims were not criminals or members of a narcotics gang, the Gardai stated, but they have not given a reason for why they were killed.
Eight years ago, the couple was discovered buried in a small grave on Inchicup Island in Lough Sheelin, Co. Meath, shrouded in plastic sheeting.
A critical piece of information concerning Lawrence and her whereabouts was acquired on September 28, according to Hawks spokesperson Captain Christopher Singo.
“Her arrest comes on an Interpol warrant for the killing of Eoin O’Connor, 32, and Anthony Keegan, 33, in Ireland,” Captain Singo stated.
“They were both found dead in 2014, and the suspect fled the nation to South Africa after the murder of the deceased victims.”
Prior to the double homicide in 2014, the Gardai were unaware of Lawrence.
