Father of double-murderer seeking judicial review against decision to stop welfare allowances

Yousef Palani, the son of Juma Palani, was jailed for life last year for the murders of two gay men and for stabbing a third man. File Picture: Brian Lawless/PA

The father of double-murderer Yousef Palani is seeking a judicial review against the State over a decision to stop his Jobseeker's and Disability Allowances.

Juma Palani is taking High Court action against the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB), the chief appeals officer, the minister for social protection, the minister for justice, Ireland, and the Attorney General.

His son, Yousef Palani, was jailed for life last year for the murders of two gay men, Michael Snee and Aidan Moffitt, and for stabbing Anthony Burke — all of which happened over a four-day period in Sligo.

Palani was aged 23 at the time of the murders, and he selected his victims using an online dating app in April 2022.

The remains of Mr Moffitt, 42, were discovered in his home on April 11. The body of Michael Snee, 58, was found the next day, also at his home.

Now, Juma Palani is seeking an order quashing the January decision of "disallowing" the claims for Jobseeker's Allowance and Disability Allowance.

Mr Palani is further seeking the quashing of a decision to seek repayment of monies paid out in respect of the allowances.

The applicant is also seeking a declaration that the State "erred in law and fact and/or exercised their discretion improperly and in excess of their jurisdiction in determining, pursuant to the Criminal Assets Bureau Act 1996, that there are reasonable grounds to infer that the applicant engaged in criminal activity".

Mr Palani submits in his application that no evidence supporting that assertion has been produced.

Mr Palani is also seeking a declaration that the respondents are in breach of, and have failed to vindicate, "the applicant's procedural rights under the Constitution and the European Court of Human Rights Act".

Mr Palani submits that he applied for Jobseeker's Allowance in August 2006 and for Disability Allowance in February 2021.

Decision

The applicant says in his statement of grounds that he attended a garda interview in May 2023 and a final disallowing decision was made in January 2024, followed by a February 2024 decision seeking the repayment of all monies in respect of the claims.

Mr Palani's lawyers submit that the investigation into the applicant's allowances had been carried out unlawfully and without a permitting certificate to do so.

In February 2024, the applicant's solicitor wrote to the relevant State parties requesting "any evidence for concluding that the applicant was engaged in criminal conduct and might engage in threats and intimidation of deciding officers" as defined in the act.

"The applicant has maintained his position throughout his dealings with the respondents that he is not engaged in any criminal activity and does not constitute a threat to staff," Mr Palani's lawyers said.

Mr Palani submits that, had there been any evidence implicating him as having engaged in criminal activity, he should have been given an opportunity to respond to it as required "by fair procedures, natural, and constitutional justice".

Ms Justice Mary Rose Gearty adjourned the matter to reappear at the High Court next week.