Courts / Sligo / Report

Father of serial killer Palani gets permission to challenge decision to cut off benefits

Date
2024-12-09
Stage
Sentence
Primary locality
Sligo
County
Sligo

Summary

At the High Court, Ms Justice Mary Rose Gearty granted permission for a judicial review and adjourned the matter to January. The applicant, Juma Palani, is challenging the State's decision to disallow his claims for jobseeker's and disability allowance. He argues that the Criminal Assets Bureau, Chief Appeals Officer, and relevant Ministers erred in law and fact by concluding there were reasonable grounds to infer he engaged in criminal activity, a finding he contends lacks supporting evidence. Mr Palani seeks an order quashing these decisions, repayment of monies paid, and declarations that the State breached his procedural rights under the Constitution and the European Court of Human Rights Act. He is also seeking a declaration that the respondents failed to vindicate his rights. The application notes that in February, his solicitor requested evidence supporting the inference of criminal conduct, which has not been produced. The case involves the father of Yousef Palani, who was jailed for life last year for the murders of Michael Snee and Aidan Moffitt and for stabbing Anthony Burke in the eye with a kitchen knife. These offences occurred over a four-day period in Sligo, driven by hatred of gay men. Yousef Palani, who was 23 at sentencing, decapitated one victim in his own home. The matter was adjourned and is not concluded.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Father of serial killer Palani gets permission to challenge decision to cut off benefits. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

Case subjects

Iraq-born Yousef Palani

Background Person

Outcome: Yousef Palani, who was driven by his hatred of gay men and decapitated one of his victims in his own home, was jailed for life last year for the murders of Michael Snee and Aidan Moffitt and for stabbing Anthony Burke in the eye with a kitchen knife, all of which happened over a four-day period in Sligo.; At the High Court today, Ms Justice Mary Rose Gearty granted permission for the review and adjourned the matter to January.

Juma Palani

Applicant

Outcome: Yousef Palani, who was driven by his hatred of gay men and decapitated one of his victims in his own home, was jailed for life last year for the murders of Michael Snee and Aidan Moffitt and for stabbing Anthony Burke in the eye with a kitchen knife, all of which happened over a four-day period in Sligo.; At the High Court today, Ms Justice Mary Rose Gearty granted permission for the review and adjourned the matter to January.

Places mentioned

Court Venue
  • High Court
  • The Central Criminal Court
Secondary Mention
Incident

Topics

Stage Sentence

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