Ireland Tightens Security Measures for Convicted Killer Yousef Palani Following Prison Officer Assault

Homophobic double killer Youssef Palani is now being ‘barrier-handled’ in Portlaoise jail after viciously assaulting a prison officer.

Sources have confirmed that the prison officer, who Youssef Palani assaulted after asking him to leave an exercise yard in the prison, had to be hospitalised.

Palani, who committed two murders in Sligo in 2022 and severely assaulted another man during a four-day killing spree, was transferred to maximum security Portlaoise due to numerous disciplinary violations and threats from violent inmates in Mountjoy.

Anthony Burke who suffered a knife assault

According to a source from the Sunday World, Palani had been under a restricted regime for his own safety since arriving in Portlaoise.

Despite being asked to return to his cell after his exercise time was up on Wednesday, Palani refused and attacked the officer who tried to reason with him.

The source mentioned that Palani will now be handled with barriers every time he leaves his cell, with prison officers wearing protective gear and shields during the process.

This decision was made due to Palani’s increasing number of disciplinary offences, many of which involved damaging his cell in Mountjoy and threatening staff members.

The incident on Wednesday highlighted the seriousness of these threats, as Palani was able to harm an officer.

Michael Snee was brutally murdered by Youssef Palani

Therefore, the decision to barrier-handle him in all situations was made to ensure the safety of everyone involved.

The individual, aged 24, committed the murders of two men and inflicted severe harm on a third person during a violent spree that lasted four days in Sligo town.

Law enforcement authorities believe that if the individual had not been apprehended, he would have continued to target and kill gay men.

Using an LGBT dating app, Palani located the men and proceeded to fatally stab them in their residences, mutilating their bodies in the process.

These attacks prompted an extensive manhunt by the police, with armed officers visiting the homes of gay men in the town as they attempted to locate Palani.

With the help of witnesses, including Anthony Burke, a local resident who survived Palani’s initial attack, the police were able to trace the killer to his residence and arrest him.

Palani, who resided in Markievicz Heights in Sligo, pleaded guilty to the murder of Aidan Moffitt in Cartron Heights, Sligo on April 10, 2022, as well as the murder of Michael Snee in City View, Connaughton Road, Sligo on April 12, 2022.

Additionally, he pleaded guilty to causing serious harm to Mr. Burke on Cleveragh Road in Sligo on April 9, 2022.

Aidan Moffitt was brutally murdered by Youssef Palani

In the case of Mr. Moffit, Palani decapitated his victim and placed the severed head on the bed, facing the door.

During the initial interview, Palani denied any involvement, but later confessed to the crimes.

He claimed that he heard voices instructing him to carry out the attacks.

Palani, originally from Iraq and immigrating to Ireland with his family at the age of six, repeatedly asserted that he was not gay, despite forensic evidence indicating his engagement in sexual activity with at least one victim.

Detective Garda Conor Jordan informed the court, during the prosecution led by Lorcan Staines, that the police believe Palani committed the attacks out of “hostility and prejudice” towards gay men.

There was no evidence supporting Palani’s claim of mental health issues, and it was believed that his account of hearing voices may have been exaggerated or entirely fabricated.

Furthermore, investigators confirmed that while Palani stated his religion prohibited homosexuality, there was no indication of radicalization.

During interviews with the police, Palani asserted that Muslims could not be homosexual.