Thursday 29 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 7711Murder · Co. Sligo

Yousef Palani admits Sligo double murders

Aidan Moffitt, 42, and Michael Snee, 58, were murdered in Sligo on April 10 and 12, 2022. Gardaí linked the killings to suspected homophobia, and the suspect, Yousef Palani, a 23-year-old man, is said to have met the victims through a dating app. Palani has been detained at Castlerea Prison since his arrest. In August 2023 he admitted murdering both men and pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court. He is due to receive a mandatory life sentence for each murder in October.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Convicted3 Aug
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Aidan Moffitt, a 42-year-old man, was murdered.
  • Michael Snee, a 58-year-old man, was murdered.
Where
The killings happened in Sligo.
When
The murders took place on April 10 and 12, 2022.
Cause
  • Gardaí linked the killings to suspected homophobia.
  • The suspect is said to hate gay men and to have said God told him to do it.
Other details
  • Neither victim had publicly declared their sexuality.
  • The suspect, Yousef Palani, a 23-year-old man, met the victims through a dating app.
Investigation
  • Palani had never come to Garda attention before the killings.
  • Palani has been detained at Castlerea Prison since his arrest.
In court
Palani admitted murdering both men at the Central Criminal Court and pleaded guilty.
Sentence
Palani is due to receive a mandatory life sentence for each murder in October.
10 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatTwo men, Aidan Moffitt and Michael Snee, were murdered. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe killings happened in Sligo. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe murders took place on April 10 and 12 of the previous year. (irishmirror.ie)
  • causeGardaí linked the killings to suspected homophobia. (irishmirror.ie)
  • causeThe suspect is said to hate gay men and to have said God told him to do it. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtPalani admitted murdering both men at the Central Criminal Court. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtPalani pleaded guilty to the murders. (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentencePalani is due to receive a mandatory life sentence for each murder in October. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe suspect met the victims through a dating app. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherPalani has been detained at Castlerea Prison since his arrest. (irishmirror.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 3 Aug2023
    Convictedirishmirror.ie, first report
    Gardai link Sligo double murders to suspected homophobia

    Adds that Palani pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court, that gardaí link the killings to suspected homophobia, that he met the victims through a dating app, and that he is due to be sentenced in October.

    victim, Aidan Moffitt, 42, male, irish (judged from name)Aidan Moffittvictim, Michael Snee, 58, male, irish (judged from name)Michael Sneeconvicted, Yousef Palani, 23, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Yousef Palani