'Obsessed' double murderer Palani told gardai he would have continued to kill

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.