Witness says fire burning at murder accused's house day after alleged victims went missing

A witness at the Central Criminal Court has testified that a fire was burning at a house in Mountnugent, County Meath, the day after two men went missing in April 2014. Vytautis Bitaris told the court he was present at Patricks Cottage on the morning of April 23, 2014, when he observed the fire near the property's outbuildings. Later that evening, the witness said he assisted in loading four large blocks into a vehicle belonging to Neville van der Westhuizen, the boyfriend of Ruth Lawrence, who denies murdering Anthony Keegan and Eoin O'Connor. The trial heard that the two men were last seen on April 22, 2014. A second witness, Marzena Miduchoska, testified that van der Westhuizen asked her to store two tool boxes at her home around midnight in April 2014, stating the items would only remain for one day. When Ms Miduchoska opened one box the following day, she observed foil-wrapped items and a device resembling a tattoo implement. The trial continues before Mr Justice Tony Hunt.