Pensioner had previous 'aggressive' altercation with murder accused, Sliabh Liag trial hears

A pensioner had engaged in an aggressive altercation with the man accused of his murder just three days before he was allegedly beaten with a rock and thrown from Ireland's highest cliffs, the Central Criminal Court heard today. Bruce Vial, brother of the accused Alan Vial, testified that on 22 June 2023 the defendant and his co-accused Nikita Burns visited his home with the deceased Robert Robin' Wilkin. During that visit, an altercation occurred between Vial and Wilkin, with both men shouting aggressively at each other. The following Sunday, after Wilkin's alleged death at Sliabh Liag in County Donegal, Vial and Burns returned to clean Vial's car using his vacuum cleaner. The vacuum was later found to contain what the witness believed was "red wine vomit". The trial also heard evidence from the manager of Mac's Bar in Dunkineely, who witnessed Wilkin strike Burns on the arm during a minor argument on the night in question.