“Our hearts are broken, our pain immeasurable”: Snee family

THE family of Sligo man Michael Snee who was brutally murdered by Yousef Palani Said they would “forever mourn his loss”. Emma Fitzpatrick, a relation of Michael Snee, read a statement on behalf of the Snee family outside the Central Criminal Court on Monday following Monday's sentencing hearing where the man who murdered Michael and Aidan Moffitt was handed down two mandatory life imprisonment sentences.

Emma stated: “Michael was a loving son, a brother, an uncle, a godparent, a brotherin-law, a friend.

“Michael was kind and fun, he loved life. Michael lived for us, his family and we all adored him.

“He has been taken from us in the most devastating manner.

“We as a family will forever mourn his loss.

“Our hearts immeasurable.

“We pray that no other family will ever are broken, our pain experience the trauma that we have had to endure.

“We want to sincerely thank all our family, friends, neighbours for their support and kindness shown to us at this time. The emergency services, the paramedics we thank you for your professionalism and respect you showed to Michael and to our family.

“We would also like to thank the investigating gardaí and all involved in bringing us here today.

“To the thousands of people across Ireland and around the world and particularly in Sligo who gathered to show their support, we thank you sincerely.

“We thank those who have respected, as a family, our request for privacy to allow us to grieve.

“We would ask that you continue to give us that continued respect as we face this terrible time without Michael.

“Today is for justice and for Michael. Michael, you will forever live in our hearts.”

time to come.

Mr Rice said the murders of Aidan Moffitt and Michael Snee were horrendous and had a devastating impact on the community.

He said the sentencing of Yousef Palani on Monday was a milestone in what has been a dark chapter in the lives of family, friends and the wider community.

Mr Rice told Ocean FM the murders had a profound effect on the LGBT Community.

He called for a national action plan to be rolled out to tackle such crime. “These murders and the attack have had an impact on the LGBT community in Sligo, the northwest and across the island of Ireland.

“We know that when people are attacked because of their identity, it has a profound effect on the entire community.

“Hate crimes have a huge impact on all of us,” he said.