31:
285:
serrated blade had been placed into
Moffitt's right hand. The second murder victim, Michael Snee, was also found tied up on the floor of his own bedroom, while a hunting knife and a black coloured knife had been laid on the bed to make the shape of a cross. There were 38 sharp force injuries to Snee's body and he had been stabbed 25 times mainly to the head, neck, and chest.
284:
The court heard that the first murder victim, Aidan
Moffitt, had been decapitated in his home, with his head placed on a bed. He had also suffered 42 stab wounds. Gardaí noted that his two hands were tied behind his back and a yellow bottle of bleach was left beside his head, while a knife with a
280:
October 2023, Palani was sentenced to life in prison for the murders and also received a 20-year sentence for assaulting a third man, who lost the sight of one eye as a result of the attack. The court heard that the attacks were motivated by hostility and prejudice towards homosexual men and that
439:
973:
913:
496:
647:
615:
462:
229:
April. That afternoon, he was brought before a special sitting of Sligo
District Court and was heckled and shouted at by a large crowd who had gathered outside the courthouse. Palani was put on
144:
October 2023, Palani was sentenced to life in prison for the murders and also received a 20-year sentence for assaulting a third man, who lost the sight of one eye as a result of the attack.
965:
431:
209:
Gardaí were also investigating whether the killings were linked to a stabbing attack of another man in his 40s, Anthony Burke, in Sligo town which saw the victim lose an eye on
Saturday 9
488:
1085:
835:
1111:
187:
were called to an apartment at
Connaughton Road in Sligo, where a second man, 58-year-old Michael Snee was discovered dead with significant physical injuries. At about 1:45
637:
607:
1137:
708:
225:
April, a 22-year-old man, Yousef Palani, was charged with the two murders and was also charged with the assault of a third man, arising out of an incident on 9
408:
331:
said it was "shocked" and "deeply saddened" by the "heinous crimes" perpetrated in Sligo and called on the
Government to urgently enact hate crime laws.
1283:
213:
April. They believed that the killings may not have been the perpetrator's first attempts at violent assaults and may have searched for other victims.
757:
677:
1248:
125:, Ireland, in the space of 24 hours. Both men were found with serious physical injuries due to a physical assault, around 1 km apart in the town.
1288:
558:
334:
Towns, villages and communities across
Ireland gathered to pay tribute to the memory of Moffitt and Snee in the days after their deaths, with
1278:
914:"'Lost in grief and forever heartbroken' – families of Aidan Moffitt and Michael Snee react as double murderer Yousef Palani jailed for life"
527:
1163:
1034:
1293:
1273:
1003:
206:. This prompted Gardaí to issue advice to the public, urging people to take necessary precautions before meeting people online.
1258:
195:, arrested a 22-year-old man on suspicion of murder. Snee was a retired healthcare worker, who had impaired vision in one eye.
1253:
327:
Members of the LGBT community in
Ireland said they felt "deeply distressed and concerned" following the attacks, while
700:
1298:
1268:
1189:
1263:
1056:
191:
a.m., following what was described as "intense local Garda activity and inquiries", Sligo Gardaí, assisted by the
1212:
400:
966:"Sligo murders: Justice Minister Helen McEntee reassures LGBT community and says new laws will fight hate crime"
787:
673:
523:
463:"Yousef Palani (22) remanded in custody after being charged with the murders of Aidan Moffitt and Michael Snee"
298:
202:
motive for the killings and whether they were the work of a potential serial killer, who was targeting men on
996:"Gardaí confirm two murder investigations under way in Sligo; Taoiseach Micheál Martin 'deeply concerned'"
669:
308:
that any crimes motivated by hate or prejudice would not be tolerated and would carry higher sentences.
783:
939:
809:
550:
401:"Sligo deaths: Murder investigations underway after bodies of two men discovered in space of 24 hours"
399:
Ní Aodha, Gráinne; O'Connor, Niall; MacNamee, Garreth; Duffy, Rónán; McNally, Tadgh (13 April 2022).
203:
432:"Sligo murders: Gardaí probe links to serial killer, as second man found dead is named and pictured"
1243:
260:
to murdering the two men and intentionally causing harm to another. He was due to go on trial on 13
192:
156:
at his semi-detached home in
Cartron Heights estate on the northern outskirts of Sligo town at 8:30
887:
519:
281:
Palani had used a dating app to meet gay men who lived alone with the intention of killing them.
1303:
489:"Possible hate motive investigated as badly mutilated body of man found at his home in Sligo"
1086:"Sligo murders: LGBTQ+ community 'deeply distressed and concerned' following recent attacks"
1026:
304:
described the murders as "atrocious crimes" and said she wanted to reassure people and the
234:
861:
8:
642:
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581:
317:
said he was "deeply concerned" and urged anyone with any information to contact Gardaí.
995:
1115:
1089:
969:
917:
466:
435:
314:
1112:"Sligo murders: Vigils for Aidan Moffitt and Michael Snee to take place nationwide"
379:
238:
169:
1138:"Vigils to be held nationwide in memory of Sligo's Michael Snee and Aidan Moffitt"
1167:
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165:
30:
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551:"Gardaí investigating whether there was hate-related motive in Sligo murders"
404:
301:
230:
133:
701:"Young man found mutilated in his Sligo home 'may have been dead for a day'"
608:"Sligo murders: Gardaí believe two men killed by man they met on dating app"
582:"Sligo killings: Vigils planned in memory of Aidan Moffitt and Michael Snee"
245:
April via video link. He was subsequently remanded in custody again until 12
1061:
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375:
328:
321:
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732:"Sligo killings: Gardaí fear suspect may have searched for other victims"
367:
257:
891:
865:
318:
199:
153:
136:. Yousef Palani, who is Muslim and of Iraqi descent, was arrested on 12
164:
April. He was last seen socialising the night before. Originally from
128:
Separate murder investigations into their deaths were conducted, with
1213:"Vigil planned in Cork City in memory of tragic Sligo murder victims"
1141:
351:
311:
173:
1057:"LGBT Ireland Statement Following the Death of Two Men in Co. Sligo"
1027:"Tánaiste "shocked" and "worried" following brutal murders in Sligo"
184:
1216:
549:
Heaney, Steven; Crowley, Sorcha; Clarke, Vivienne (13 April 2022).
371:
347:
836:"Man charged with murders of two men in Sligo remanded in custody"
398:
363:
355:
810:"Man accused of murdering two men in Sligo put on suicide watch"
140:
April, and was charged with the murders the following day. On 23
359:
343:
758:"Yousef Palani (22) charged with murders of two men in Sligo"
339:
335:
122:
52:
670:"Gardaí urge online daters to let people know where you are"
940:"Serial killer driven by hatred of gay men jailed for life"
888:"Palani jailed for life for murder of two gay men in Sligo"
430:
Foy, Ken; Murray, Eavan; Mulgrew, Seoirse (13 April 2022).
862:"Man admits murders of two men and harming third in Sligo"
324:
said he was "shocked" and "worried" by the two deaths.
1164:"Vigil to be held in Limerick for murdered Sligo men"
580:
McGlynn, Michelle; Crowley, Sorcha (14 April 2022).
487:
Gallagher, Conor; McDonagh, Marese (12 April 2022).
268:
October when victim impact evidence was also heard.
216:
121:(aged 58) were found murdered in their own homes in
548:
1190:"Vigil in Galway to remember Sligo murder victims"
784:"Man charged with murders of two men in Co Sligo"
486:
1235:
520:"Two separate murder investigations in Co Sligo"
429:
152:Aidan Moffitt, 42 years of age, was found badly
579:
63:Hostility and prejudice towards homosexual men
964:Molony, Senan; Hyland, Paul (13 April 2022).
937:
859:
241:to appear again at Sligo District Court on 21
963:
172:, he was a well-known local auctioneer and
198:Gardaí were examining whether there was a
29:
1284:Violent deaths in the Republic of Ireland
638:"Safety Advice for Meeting People Online"
605:
264:November, but was instead sentenced on 23
23:Murders of Aidan Moffitt and Michael Snee
1210:
833:
755:
1249:2022 murders in the Republic of Ireland
1161:
1135:
1109:
1083:
885:
807:
781:
729:
517:
1289:Violence against LGBT people in Europe
1236:
1187:
911:
460:
938:O'Riordan, Alison (23 October 2023).
886:Traynor, Vivienne (23 October 2023).
698:
1279:Murder victims from County Roscommon
1024:
13:
1162:Watkins, Frances (13 April 2022).
1084:Mulgrew, Seoirse (13 April 2022).
1037:from the original on 13 April 2022
1006:from the original on 13 April 2022
976:from the original on 13 April 2022
834:McDonagh, Marese (21 April 2022).
756:McDonagh, Marese (14 April 2022).
711:from the original on 13 April 2022
680:from the original on 13 April 2022
650:from the original on 12 April 2022
618:from the original on 13 April 2022
606:Gallagher, Conor (13 April 2022).
561:from the original on 13 April 2022
530:from the original on 13 April 2022
499:from the original on 12 April 2022
442:from the original on 13 April 2022
411:from the original on 13 April 2022
14:
1315:
1188:Malone, Michael (14 April 2022).
1110:Moloney, Eoghan (14 April 2022).
912:Murray, Eavan (23 October 2023).
808:Crowley, Sorcha (14 April 2022).
730:Crowley, Sorcha (14 April 2022).
217:Accused: Charge & Guilty Plea
1294:Victims of anti-LGBT hate crimes
1274:Murder victims from County Sligo
1211:Rountree, Sara (14 April 2022).
860:O'Donnell, Orla (31 July 2023).
147:
1204:
1181:
1155:
1136:Brayden, Kate (14 April 2022).
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699:Quinn, Trevor (13 April 2022).
692:
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461:Murray, Eavan (14 April 2022).
237:and was remanded in custody at
35:Snee (left) and Moffitt (right)
782:McGrath, Pat (14 April 2022).
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542:
518:McGrath, Pat (13 April 2022).
511:
480:
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16:2022 murders in Sligo, Ireland
1:
1259:Deaths by stabbing in Ireland
385:
1025:Carr, Hugh (13 April 2022).
788:RTÉ News and Current Affairs
674:RTÉ News and Current Affairs
524:RTÉ News and Current Affairs
288:
7:
1254:April 2022 crimes in Europe
271:
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1299:Violence against gay men
1269:People from Sligo (town)
1264:History of County Sligo
179:At approximately 10:30
183:p.m. the next night,
299:Minister for Justice
132:probing links to a
25:
256:July 2023, Palani
193:Armed Support Unit
88:Non-fatal injuries
21:
1116:Irish Independent
1090:Irish Independent
1002:. 13 April 2022.
970:Irish Independent
918:Irish Independent
676:. 13 April 2022.
467:Irish Independent
436:Irish Independent
160:p.m. on Monday 11
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107:Life imprisonment
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44:11–12 April 2022
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315:Micheál Martin
306:LGBT community
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235:Prison Service
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117:(aged 42) and
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73:Michael Snee
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1220:. Retrieved
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1171:. Retrieved
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1145:. Retrieved
1131:
1119:. Retrieved
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1093:. Retrieved
1079:
1067:. Retrieved
1062:LGBT Ireland
1060:
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1008:. Retrieved
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705:Irish Mirror
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413:. Retrieved
394:
333:
329:LGBT Ireland
326:
322:Leo Varadkar
310:
297:April 2022,
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119:Michael Snee
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1000:EchoLive.ie
204:dating apps
1238:Categories
949:23 October
923:23 October
897:23 October
386:References
200:homophobic
176:activist.
1142:Hot Press
380:Tipperary
352:Waterford
312:Taoiseach
289:Reactions
174:Fine Gael
154:mutilated
96:Convicted
55:, Ireland
1222:14 April
1217:Cork Beo
1196:14 April
1173:14 April
1147:14 April
1121:14 April
1095:14 April
1069:14 April
1041:13 April
1035:Archived
1010:13 April
1004:Archived
980:13 April
974:Archived
892:RTÉ News
866:RTÉ News
845:25 April
819:14 April
793:14 April
767:14 April
741:14 April
715:13 April
709:Archived
684:13 April
678:Archived
654:13 April
648:Archived
622:13 April
616:Archived
591:14 April
565:13 April
559:Archived
534:13 April
528:Archived
503:13 April
497:Archived
472:14 April
446:13 April
440:Archived
415:13 April
409:Archived
372:Kilkenny
348:Limerick
319:Tánaiste
272:Sentence
104:Sentence
49:Location
871:31 July
364:Belfast
356:Wexford
233:by the
1031:JOE.ie
360:Galway
344:Dublin
336:vigils
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185:Gardaí
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130:Gardaí
80:Deaths
68:Target
60:Motive
376:Louth
340:Sligo
293:On 13
276:On 23
252:On 31
249:May.
221:On 14
123:Sligo
53:Sligo
1224:2022
1198:2022
1175:2022
1149:2022
1123:2022
1097:2022
1071:2022
1043:2022
1012:2022
982:2022
951:2023
925:2023
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873:2023
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686:2022
656:2022
624:2022
593:2022
567:2022
536:2022
505:2022
474:2022
448:2022
417:2022
378:and
368:Cork
41:Date
350:,
1240::
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1029:.
998:.
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