Posted by Second man found murdered in Sligo named as gardai probe ‘hate-related motive’
14th April 2022
The man whose body was discovered in an apartment in Sligo last night has been named as gardai probe any ‘hate-related motives’ between the murders.
At a press conference on Wednesday morning, Gardai named the man found with ‘significant injuries’ on Tuesday night as 58-year-old Michael Snee.
At a press conference in Sligo on Wednesday, Garda Superintendent Aidan Glacken said that they were conducting two separate murder investigations into the deaths of both Mr Snee and 42-year-old Aidan Moffitt, who was found dead in his home in Cartron Heights on Monday.
‘Michael and Aidan were well known and respected in this community,’ Mr Glacken said. ‘They were assaulted and murdered in their own homes. Our thoughts and prayers are with their families at this time and indeed their friends and the wider community in Sligo.’
Garda superintendent Aidan Glacken said gardai were keeping an ‘open mind’ in the investigation.
He said gardai were investigating whether the two victims in Sligo met their attacker online.
‘We are actively investigating as to whether there is any hate-related motive to these murders,’ he said.
‘An Garda Siochana will endeavour to seek out all the available evidence and ultimately it will be for a court to decide on the motivation behind these appalling crimes.
‘Gardai are also investigating whether Michael and Aidan met their attacker online.
‘Meeting people online is a normal activity. Meeting people online should be a safe activity. But as with any online activity everybody should be aware of personal safety advice, which we have provided on the Garda website.’
Mr Snee’s body was found in an apartment late last night with ‘significant physical injuries.’ He is the second man to have been found dead with significant injuries in Sligo this week, with Mr Moffitt’s body being found late on Monday evening.
The scene where Mr Snee’s body was found was preserved overnight, and a forensic examination is underway. His body remains at the scene pending a post-mortem examination.
Garda superintendent Aidan Glacken said officers were examining another recent incident in the Sligo area as part of the murder probes.
‘I am appealing to any person who may have been subject to any unwanted approaches or who was assaulted or otherwise attacked to contact the incident room at Sligo Garda station,’ he added.
‘I have a dedicated diversity team here, we need to hear from you, we are here to listen to you and we are here to support you.’
Mr Glacken said substantial Garda resources were being deployed to the investigations, with regional and national units involved.
He said a post-mortem examination had been carried out on Mr Moffitt’s body on Tuesday and one would be conducted for Mr Snee later on Wednesday.
The chief superintendent said he could not comment further on the arrest of a man in his 20s in the early hours of Wednesday. He remained in custody on Wednesday afternoon.
Gardaí arrested the man at around 1.45am on Wednesday morning, in an operation carried out by local Gardaí backed up by the armed support unit. He is currently being held at Sligo Garda station on suspicion of the murder of Mr Snee, and can be held for up to 24 hours.
Yesterday evening, Gardaí investigating the death of Mr Moffitt said that they were investigating whether he met his killer online. Gardaí are also investigating the possibility that there was a hate-related motive to Mr Moffitt’s murder.
Gardaí in Sligo have appealed for anyone in the Cartron area that were in the vicinity of the scene at any point up to 8.30pm to contact them.
Investigating Gardaí can be contacted at a dedicated phone number at the incident room in Sligo Garda Station at 071-9157088, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800-666-111, or any Garda Station.
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