Lawrence 'told witness she shot dealer'

DOUBLE murder accused Ruth Lawrence told a key witness she had shot drug dealer Eoin O'Connor “but it went wrong”, so her boyfriend “took over", the Central Criminal Court has heard.

- BY ALISON O'RIORDAN

Stacey Symes also told the trial yesterday that the accused said Anthony Keegan, who the jury heard suffered two gunshots to the head and neck - had died for Mr O'Connor “because they were friends”.

Ms Lawrence, 45, who is originally from Clontarf in Dublin but who has an address at Patrick's Cottage, Ross, Mountnugent in Co Meath, has pleaded not guilty to murdering Mr Keegan, 33, and Mr O'Connor, 32, at an unknown location within the State on a date between April 22, 2014 and May 26, 2014.

Ms Symes, 32, told Michael O'Higgins SC, prosecuting, that she grew up with her father, Jason or 'Jay' Symes, in Ballyjamesduff in Co Cavan.