Man charged in prison quarantine in murders of Aidan Moffitt and Michael Snee, court hears

A man charged with the murders of Aidan Moffitt and Michael Snee and assaulting a third man has been remanded in custody until next month.

Ousef Palani, 22, of 10 Markievicz Heights, Sligo, appeared before Sligo District Court this morning via video link from Castlerea Prison.

Mr Palani was remanded in custody by a special session of Sligo District Court last Thursday.

Mr Palani, dressed in a gray tracksuit and green polo shirt, was escorted into the room by two prison officers.

He confirmed to the clerk that he could hear the proceedings and greeted Judge Sandra Murphy and his attorney, “Good morning.”

His attorney, Mr. Gerard McGovern, confirmed to Judge Murphy that bail would not be sought.

“No, Mr. Judge, there is no request for bail at this time.”

Mr McGovern addressed Mr Palani directly and said: Yousef, have you seen any doctors – a consultant psychiatrist?

Mr Palani nodded his head and said, “Yes, yes.”

Mr McGovern told Palani his legal team would visit him in “about a week” when he was “out of quarantine”.

Palani nodded and replied, “Ton, yes.”

Mr McGovern told Judge Murphy his client had been in quarantine for 14 days.

Regarding his client’s request or a future request for bail, Mr McGovern told Judge Murphy he had “absolutely no orders, Judge, but I hope to see.”

him as soon as we can visit and discuss with him.”

Mr McGovern asked that all three charges be adjourned until 12 May.

Judge Murphy said she would comply with a disclosure order.

Mr McGovern thanked Judge Murphy and said he hoped there would be some DPP guidance by the next hearing date.

Mr McGovern turned back to his client and asked: ‘Have the doctors come back to see you? Did they give you an appointment?

Mr Palani replied: “Yes, they are – today.”

A prison officer spoke up and said, “We just removed him from a psychiatrist’s meeting. He was just sitting there in a psychiatrist’s meeting and we need to get him back there now.”

Mr McGovern thanked the prison officials.

Mr McGovern asked Judge Murphy to grant legal aid on all three separate charges after an application on just one of the charges was granted last week.

The state raised no objection and also requested Mr Palani’s pre-trial detention

Judge Murphy granted the legal aid application and remanded Mr Palani to appear again in Sligo District Court on May 12.