Friends shot and bodies dumped on Sheelin island

Verdict of unlawful killing returned

Two young Dublin men, murdered 12 years ago, had their bodies dumped on an island on Lough Sheelin on the Cavan/Meath border an inquest in Navan has heard.

Coroner for Co Meath Nathaniel Lacy conducted separate inquests into the deaths of Eoin O’Connor (32) and Anthony Keegan (33), believed to have died between April 22 and May 26, 2014.

The pair had travelled to Ballyjamesduff to collect a drug debt on April 22 and were later reported missing, with their bodies found buried in a shallow grave on Inchicup Island more than a month later.

The coroner said there had been significant delays in holding the two inquests, but this was due to separate lengthy court hearings, which included the extradition of a person from another jurisdiction.

Mr Lacy said he had had to wait until these criminal proceedings had concluded before the inquest could proceed.

Detective Sergeant Kevin O’Brien, Kells Garda Station, said when Mr O’Connor’s body was recovered it was brought to Chief State Pathologist, Professor Marie Cassidy, in Dublin for a post mortem to be carried out.

A full Garda investigation had taken place and there were two suspects. A trial was held at the Central Criminal Court back in October 2025, and following that, Ruth Lawrence, with an address at Patrick’s Cottage, Ross, Mountnugent, Co Meath, was convicted of murdering Mr O’Connor and Mr Keegan. She was subsequently sentenced to life imprisonment.

Identification of Mr O’Connor’s body was provided by Detective Garda Shane Flannery at Navan mortuary.

Consultant pathologist Dr Muna Sabah read into the record the deposition of her former colleague Prof Cassidy, which detailed three fatal gunshot wounds to Mr O’Connor’s body.

The coroner returned a verdict of unlawful killing.

He said that a person had been convicted, though an appeal had been lodged, and therefore adjourned the conclusion of the inquest to January 2027.

Both Mr Lacy and Garda Inspector Alan Roughneen extended their sympathies to the family of Mr O’Connor.

In the inquest of Mr Keegan, Detective Garda O’Brien said he too had been murdered and that Ms Lawrence had been tried and received a sentence of life imprisonment.

Again it was noted that she has since appealed that conviction, with the outcome expected in the New Year.

In a post mortem report compiled by State Pathologist Dr Michael Curtis and read into the record by Dr Sabah, it was stated that Mr O’Connor suffered two gunshots to the body.

A verdict of unlawful killing was returned, and his inquest was adjourned until January.

* This article was published with support from the Court Reporting Scheme