‘Their deaths woke no one up’: LGBT+ community speaks out a year on since the Sligo killings

Despite the outpouring of support after the violent deaths of two gay men in Sligo, LGBT+ people tell Sorcha Crowley that, one year on, they see little positive change in attitudes here

The bodies of 42-year-old Aidan Moffitt and 58-year-old Michael Snee were found in their respective homes in Sligo in April, 2022. File picture

"Our community are fed up. We’re fed up and frustrated. The attacks on Aidan Moffitt and Michael Snee didn’t change anyone. It didn’t wake anyone up," says Harper Rooney, slowly emphasising the last four words for effect.

As a transgender woman living and working in Sligo, she feels nothing has changed in the 12 months since three gay men were attacked in the northwest town. It rocked the entire country and cost two of the men their lives.