Ruth Lawrence trial hears drug dealer was likely shot in abdomen before fatal gunshot to head

Alison O'Riordan

It is likely that a drug dealer who went missing before his body was found on a lake island over 10 years ago was shot in the abdomen before receiving a fatal gunshot to the head, the former Chief State Pathologist has told a woman's double murder trial.

Ruth Lawrence (45), who is originally from Clontarf in Dublin but with an address at Patrick's Cottage, Ross, Mountnugent, 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.

Retired Deputy State Pathologist Dr Michael Curtis told the trial on Monday that Mr Keegan died from two gunshot wounds to the head and neck.

Former Chief State Pathologist Professor Marie Cassidy, on Tuesday told Mr Michael O'Higgins SC, prosecuting, that she conducted a post mortem on Mr O'Connor's remains, where there was evidence of significant decomposition, at the mortuary of Our Lady's Hospital in Navan on May 27th, 2014.

Prof Cassidy said Mr O'Connor's body was found wrapped in dark blue nylon material and secured with light blue nylon rope. The light blue nylon rope had been wound around the neck, mid trunk and legs.

The witness testified that Mr O'Connor was fully clothed and had been wearing a blue 'Helly Hansen' jacket, a blue Chelsea football t-shirt and grey tracksuit bottoms.

Prof Cassidy said she identified three gunshot wounds; one to the head, one to the abdomen and another to the left hand.

Referring to the gunshot wound to the head, the witness said blood and brain tissue was leaking from the left ear.

She said the gunshot had entered through the left earlobe, continuing in through the left side of the skull. As it went through it clipped the upper part of the lower jaw. The bullet, she said, had come to a rest in the skull cavity.

Prof Cassidy said a partially fragmented bullet was located inside the skull cavity. The brain had partly liquified, so it was difficult to tell the extent of the damage to the brain, she added.

She said there was a fracture to the hyoid bone, but otherwise the tissues in the neck were healthy.

The second gunshot wound to the abdominal wall was near the tummy button. The bullet had continued into the pelvic cavity and gone from the front of the body towards the back, exiting from the left upper buttock.

The third gunshot wound to the left index finger had left a large gaping hole at the tip of the finger, fracturing the bone.

She said a toxicology report showed a low level of alcohol in Mr O'Connor's system.

In her evidence, Prof Cassidy said the gunshot wound to the head was the fatal injury, whereas the bullet through the abdomen was "a potentially fatal wound".

The expert witness said the third gunshot wound to the hand could have been caused by one of the other two bullets "entering or exiting", or it may indicate a separate shot.

Prof Cassidy agreed with the prosecutor that the bullet into the head had been "lodged" and there had been no exit point.

The witness added it was likely that Mr O'Connor's body had been "wrapped" fairly soon after death.

The cause of death, she said, was the gunshot wound to the head, with a contributory factor being the gunshot injury to the abdomen.

Asked by Mr O'Higgins whether she could offer a view as to the sequence of the gunshots discharged, Prof Cassidy said it was likely the gunshot wound to the abdomen had occurred first and then the fatal gunshot to the head. She said the injury to the brain would have caused immediate collapse and rapid death.

"Are the three wounds consistent with three gunshots?" asked the prosecutor. "It could have been two shots, he could have been protecting the abdomen or raising his hand to his head," said Prof Cassidy.

The trial continues on Tuesday afternoon before Mr Justice Tony Hunt and a jury of four men and eight women.

In his opening address, Mr O'Higgins 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 Mr Keegan, with their bodies later found "bound in rope, tape and covered in tarpaulin" on Inchicup Island.

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 Neville van der Westhuizen.

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