Thousands join rallies to stand with Sligo victims
THOUSANDS of people gathered at nationwide vigils this weekend in an emotional show of solidarity for the two men killed in their homes.
Aidan Moffitt, 41, and Michael Snee, 58, were found dead in Sligo earlier this week.
A 22-year-old man has been charged with their murders and with injuring a third man.
Vigils in honour of the men were held over the weekend, many having been organised by local LGBT groups.
One of the events was held in Blessington, Co. Wicklow.
Blessington and District Forum chairperson Carmel Cashin told the Irish Mail on Sunday: ‘We wanted to show there is no place for this level of violence in Irish society.
‘We condemn violence in all its forms and we want to ensure Blessington is a socially inclusive town where there is no place for discrimination.’
Entrepreneur Mr Moffitt was involved in Fine Gael and his business interests included real estate and banking.
He lived in a two-storey semidetached home on the outskirts of Sligo, where his black Mercedes was still parked in his driveway yesterday.
Just 2.5km on the other side of town, Michael Snee’s shocked neighbours and friends were still in disbelief that they would never see their neighbour again.
The retired care assistant moved to the council-built Radharc na Cathrach estate about six years ago after his sight began to fail.
A childhood friend recalled: ‘I have known Michael since we were young and when he moved to Radharc na
Cathrach, he was so happy when he got the house.
‘His sight was failing and he took early retirement. I never saw anyone so happy and he certainly made a home of it.
‘He had great taste and he wouldn’t move in until he had all the work done first. His life was his home. It was just fabulous. He had the house decorated all beautiful bright creams and whites. It was lovely and cheerful.
‘He was a lovely man. He was a lovely lad.
‘It’s hard to get your head around it that he is gone. It’s all very unsettling. This street is so quiet you’d hear a pin drop. But it will never be the same.’
Michael Snee and Aidan Moffitt will both be laid to rest tomorrow after respective funeral masses at St Joseph’s church in Ballytivnan, Sligo, and in the Co. Roscommon parish of Lisacul, where Aidan grew up.