Courts / Sligo / Report
'Obsessed' double murderer Palani told gardai he would have continued to kill
Summary
Yousef Palani, aged 23, appeared at the Central Criminal Court for sentencing following guilty pleas to two murders in Sligo in April 2022. Palani admitted to the murder of Aidan Moffitt on 10 April at Cartron Heights and Michael Snee on 12 April at Connaughton Road. He also pleaded guilty to causing serious harm to a third man on 9 April. During the hearing, Detective Garda Conor Jordan of Sligo Garda Station told the court that gardai were satisfied Palani's motivation stemmed from hostility and prejudice towards homosexual men. The court heard Palani had stated he would have continued killing had gardai not intervened. While Palani cited religious objections to homosexuality during questioning, investigators determined he had not been radicalised. The garda witness indicated that claims regarding Palani's mental health had been exaggerated or fabricated. Palani, with no previous convictions, was last resident at Markievicz Heights in Sligo.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: 'Obsessed' double murderer Palani told gardai he would have continued to kill. Charges or matters: the murder of Aidan Moffitt (42) at Cartron Heights in Sligo on April 10, 2022; the murder of Michael Snee (58) at City View, Connaughton Road, Sligo, two days later on April 12, 2022; causing serious harm to Anthony Burke at Cleveragh Road in Sligo on April 9, 2022. Procedural stage: sentence. Findings: Not guilty by reason of insanity
When:
- April 10, 2022 Hearing Or Sentence
- April 12, 2022 Hearing Or Sentence
- April 9, 2022 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2023-10-23 Publication
Case subjects
Background Person
Charges: the murder of Aidan Moffitt (42) at Cartron Heights in Sligo on April 10, 2022; the murder of Michael Snee (58) at City View, Connaughton Road, Sligo, two days later on April 12, 2022; causing serious harm to Anthony Burke at Cleveragh Road in Sligo on April 9, 2022 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Finding: Not guilty by reason of insanity
Outcome: Not guilty by reason of insanity; During today's sentence hearing, Detective Garda Conor Jordan of Sligo Garda Station agreed with Lorcan Staines SC, prosecuting, that Palani's motivation to carry out the murders was as a result of his "hostility and prejudice" towards homosexual men. Palani, last of Markievicz Heights in Sligo, appeared at the court today for his sentence hearing, having pleaded guilty to the murder of Aidan Moffitt (42) at Cartron Heights in Sligo on April 10, 2022.
Places mentioned
- Central Criminal Court
- The Central Criminal Court
- Conor Jordan of Sligo Garda Station
- Sligo
- Markievicz Heights
- Sligo
- Cartron Heights
- City View
- Connaughton Road
- Cleveragh Road
Topics
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