Gardai have launched separate investigations after two men were "assaulted and murdered in their own homes" in Co Sligo.
Michael Snee, 58, and Aidan Moffitt, 41, were both found with "significant injuries" after they had been brutally attacked in recent days.
Gardai say they are keeping an open mind when it comes to the killings, but added they are probing whether there is "any hate-related motive" to the murders.
READ MORE: Second man found dead named as gardai issue update on Aidan Moffitt killing
Mr Snee was found dead at an apartment at Connaughton Road shortly after 10.30pm on Tuesday. He had sustained "significant physical injuries" during the attack.
At around 1.45am on Wednesday, following "intense local garda activity and enquiries", armed gardai arrested a man in his early 20s in Sligo Town on suspicion of murder. He is currently detained under the provision of section 4 Criminal Justice Act 1984 at Sligo Garda Station.
The discovery of Mr Snee's body marked the second killing in Sligo in as many days. Auctioneer and Fine Gael activist Aidan Moffit, 41, was found dead in his home on Monday night.
Emergency services were called to the scene at Cartron Heights in Co Sligo around 8.30pm, where they made the discovery. His body was found with "significant physical injuries" inside the house and it's understood the remains were mutilated, with horrific neck injuries.
Mr Moffitt was a well-respected local businessman who ran an auctioneering business and provided advice on mortgages and pensions.
In an update on Wednesday, gardai confirmed that two separate murder investigations were under way. Chief Superintendent Aidan Glacken said: "Michael and Aidan were well known and respected in this community. They were assaulted and murdered in their own homes.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with their families at this time and indeed their friends and the wider community in Sligo."
Family Liaison Officers have been provided to both men's families and an incident room has been established at Sligo garda station. Both scenes remain sealed off as the Garda Technical Bureau conducts detailed forensic examinations.
A post-mortem was carried out on the remains of Aidan Moffitt at University Hospital Sligo on Tuesday, while an exam is due to take place on the remains of Michael Snee later on Wednesday.
Supt Glacken said gardai would not be releasing any details of the post-mortem examination for operational reasons.
He said: "We continue to retain an open mind in this investigation. I would like to thank the community for their cooperation and assistance so far, information received from across the community continues to assist us in our investigation. It is heartening to see such cross-community support at this time.
"I continue to appeal to the public for their assistance in that regard.
"We are actively investigating as to whether there is any hate-related motive to these murders, An Garda Síochána will endeavour to seek out all the available evidence, and ultimately it will be for a Court to decide on the motivation behind these appalling crimes.
"Gardai are also investigating whether Michael and Aidan met their attacker online. Meeting people online is a normal activity. Meeting people online should be a safe activity. But as with any online activity everybody should be aware of personal safety advice, which we have provided on the Garda website."
He added: "We continue to explore all the circumstances of these cases and are examining another recent incident which occurred in the Sligo area.
"I am appealing to any person who may have been subject of any unwanted approaches or who was assaulted or otherwise attacked to contact the incident room at Sligo Garda Station. I have a dedicated diversity team here, we need to hear from you, we are here to listen to you and we are here to support you."
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