Irishwoman wanted for overseas double murder nabbed in Bloem

Interpol issued a warrant of arrest for the suspect over a double murder in Ireland. The Hawks discovered she was in Bloemfontein last month.

Oct 5, 2022 - 14:15
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Irishwoman wanted for overseas double murder nabbed in Bloem

A 42-year-old woman from Ireland was arrested in Bloemfontein by the Hawks Serious Organised Investigation team and police Flying Squad on Tuesday, 4 October. An international warrant of arrest was issued for Ruth Lawrence earlier this year.

IRISHWOMAN WANTED FOR MURDER NABBED IN BLOEMFONTEIN

Hawks spokesperson Captain Christopher Singo said Interpol issued a warrant of arrest against Lawrence in connection with the murder of Eoin O’Connor and Anthony Keegan. The pair were found murdered in County Meath, Ireland in 2014.

“After the murder of the deceased persons, the suspect then fled the country,” said Singo. The authorities received information about Lawrence being in Bloemfontein on 28 September.

The tip-off led the Hawks to Pellisier, Bloemfontein, where the Irishwoman was arrested. She is expected to appear before the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday.

According to the Irish Sun, Lawrence left Ireland for South Africa with her then-boyfriend Neville Peter van der Westhuizen who is also wanted for the double murder.

Van der Westhuizen is in trouble with the law in South Africa as well. In Ireland he is also wanted for the alleged murder of a drug cartel member in 2014.

This was revealed in the Durban Magistrate’s Court in 2017 when he was one of the four accused in the dock for beating up three teenagers and forcing them to drink a poisonous drink in a Bluff tattoo parlour, per IOL

According to the Irish Sun, the local police confirmed that O’Connor and Keegan were not involved in any criminal activity. The two friends were found wrapped in plastic and buried in a shallow grave in County Meath.

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