Ruth Lawrence, an Irish woman with jet-black hair, lived under an assumed name, Ruth Lawless on a property in Pellissier, Bloemfontein.
Originally from Dublin, she worked as a tattoo artist and had been in South Africa for nearly eight years while hiding from a double murder investigation in Ireland. In November 2025, she has been found guilty after years of living an in unsuspicious double life and later undergoing a lengthy trail.
As reported by Daily Mail, the 45-year-old was arrested by the Hawks at her home in October 2022. She was later convicted of the murders of her Irish friends, Eoin O’Connor and Anthony Keegan, whose bodies were found buried with gunshot wounds. She had fled Ireland with her South African boyfriend, Neville van der Westhuizen, and was extradited back to Dublin to face trial.
After fleeing Ireland, Ruth Lawrence travelled to the UK before moving to South Africa with her boyfriend. The couple split up years later, and Ruth often relied on refugee shelters.
During her trial, pastors testified that she feared becoming a victim of human trafficking. Pastor Robert Brazelle, who met Ruth in Pretoria in 2016, said she sought help after expressing fears for her safety and trafficking. She stayed at a safehouse in Bloemfontein before returning to Pretoria in 2017.
By July 2019, she was assisting Pastor Brazelle in managing a safehouse for human trafficking victims and contributed as a volunteer. She also helped with a feeding scheme serving around 4,000 people daily.
However, her past in Ireland was very different, as she ended up in court, pleading not guilty to two murders which occurred sometime between April 22 and May 26, 2014.
Neville van der Westhuizen, Ruth’s former boyfriend, is reported to have lived in Ireland for at least five years before they met around 2010. He rented an apartment in Co. Cavan and worked in Ballyjamesduff before moving to Dublin.
He is said to have been owing Dublin drug dealers €70,000. In April 2014, drug dealer Eoin O’Connor and Anthony Keegan travelled to Ballyjamesduff to collect owed money.
During the trial, two close witnesses, now in witness protection, testified that Ruth Lawrence told them she shot O’Connor, but it went wrong, so her partner Van der Westhuizen took over, resulting in both men’s deaths.
When arrested, Ruth offered no resistance and quickly admitted her identity. Held at the Bainsvlei police cells in Bloemfontein, she appeared profoundly affected.
At her first court appearance, she declined bail, stating she wanted to be extradited to Ireland and was willing to pay for her airfare. Her wish was granted in May 2023.
Also see: From Village Deep to the Courthouse: How a Johannesburg Factory Became a Human Trafficking Verdict
