Gardaí investigating the homicide of two males in Sligo city in latest days have assured potential witnesses of compassion and confidentiality.
Tributes have been paid to Aidan Moffitt (42) and Michael Snee (58) who have been murdered of their houses in separate violent assaults in latest days.
Gardaí consider they met their killer on a homosexual courting app earlier than letting him into their houses. A 22-year-old man has been arrested and stays in Garda custody.
“Michael and Aidan have been well-known and revered on this group,” stated Sligo Chief Superintendent Aidan Glacken. “They have been assaulted and murdered in their very own houses. Our ideas and prayers are with their households at the moment and certainly their associates and the broader group in Sligo.”
Two separate homicide investigations are below approach, with separate senior investigating officers. Nonetheless, Garda sources have been more and more assured on Wednesday evening that each murders have been carried out by the identical particular person.
Each homicide scenes and the suspect’s dwelling remained sealed off final evening for technical examination.
Though they don’t seem to be exercise trying to find every other suspects, gardaí are eager to talk with locals, together with members of the homosexual group, who might have info.
“Gardaí are additionally investigating whether or not Michael and Aidan met their attacker on-line. Assembly folks on-line is a traditional exercise. Assembly folks on-line ought to be a protected exercise. However as with all on-line exercise all people ought to pay attention to private security recommendation,” Chief Supt Glacken stated, directing folks to security recommendation revealed on the Garda web site.
He appealed to anybody “who might have been topic of any undesirable approaches or who was assaulted or in any other case attacked” to contact gardaí.
‘Atrocious crimes’
“I’ve a devoted range crew right here, we have to hear from you, we’re right here to take heed to you and we’re right here to assist you.”
He assured potential witnesses “that each one any info acquired can be handled within the strictest confidence”.
Minister for Justice Helen McEntee stated she had spoken to Garda Commissioner Drew Harris in regards to the “atrocious crimes” in Sligo.
She stated the commissioner had assured her each effort can be made to seek out these accountable and convey them to justice. She urged anybody with info to return ahead.
“I might additionally like to specific my deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Aidan Moffitt, and to the family and friends of the person who was additionally killed final evening. They’re in our ideas right now.”
Ms McEntee additionally famous it had been a troublesome week for the LGBT group with plenty of distressing incidents.
“These are incidents that we thought have been behind us. And once more, I simply need to reassure those that any crimes which might be motivated by hate or by prejudice or by discrimination, is not going to be tolerated and can carry increased sentences. I hope to introduce the hate crime Invoice in a matter of weeks to reply.”
Tánaiste Leo Varadkar stated he’s “deeply troubled” over the killings and that he’s involved in regards to the attainable motive of the attacker. Gardaí are inspecting if there’s a “hate motive” for the murders.
Mr Snee was a care assistant in a neighborhood hospital. He was described by locals who knew him as a quiet, type man who principally stored to himself.
Mr Moffitt, who was initially from Roscommon, was a Wonderful Gael activist who was self-employed in a property enterprise and as a monetary adviser.
A vigil for each victims is being deliberate for Friday by the Sligo Delight organisation.