LAST UPDATE | 31 Jul 2023
A 23-YEAR-OLD man has pleaded guilty to murdering two men in Sligo and causing serious harm to a third.
At the Central Criminal Court this morning, Yousef Palani (23), of Markievicz Heights in Sligo, pleaded guilty to the murder of Aidan Moffitt at Cartron Heights in Sligo on 10 April 2022.
He also pleaded guilty to the murder of Michael Snee at City View, Connaughton Road, Sligo, two days later on 12 April 2022. Palani further pleaded guilty to causing serious harm to Anthony Burke at Cleveragh Road in Sligo on 9 April 2022.
Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring extended her sympathy to the families of the deceased and in directing that victim impact statements be prepared, said it was important that they be heard.
The matter was previously listed for a four-week trial on 13 November next but the matter has now been adjourned to 23 October for sentencing.
The case had been before the Central Criminal Court on several previous occasions, including earlier this month when Mr Justice Paul McDermott was told Palani had changed his senior counsel ahead of his trial.
In what was a brief hearing, defence counsel Brendan Grehan SC told Mr Justice McDermott that Palani had “a preference for a different senior counsel” and in those circumstances, he asked the court’s leave for Michael Bowman SC to represent the defendant instead. The firm of solicitors representing Palani were to remain in place.
Grehan also told the judge that various records had been sought for Palani from the Central Mental Hospital and from Castlerea Prison in Roscommon but the defence team was still awaiting those.
Mr Justice McDermott asked Grehan as to whether reports had been sought from experts. The lawyer said he had informed the court on 26 April that the defence had procured their own psychiatric assessment and that it was not their intention to share that with the prosecution.
At the 26 April hearing, Grehan informed Mr Justice McDermott that the defence had received a psychiatric assessment for their client only that week.
Grehan said the next step would have to be discussed with the accused, who was on remand in Castlerea Prison, and that “two due diligence matters will have to be dealt with”. These were concerned with exhibits in the case and records from the Central Mental Hospital, he added.
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