Sliabh Liag murder accused tells trial he lied about pensioner sexually assaulting co-accused

A man on trial for the murder of a 66-year-old pensioner at Sliabh Liag in County Donegal has acknowledged fabricating serious allegations during garda interviews, yet maintains his current testimony is truthful. Alan Vial, aged 39, of Drumanoo Head, Killybegs, told the Central Criminal Court that he devised a false account claiming his co-accused had sexually assaulted the deceased, Robert Robin Wilkin. Mr Vial accepted that this allegation was his invention and that he and his co-accused had constructed a joint false narrative regarding the circumstances of Mr Wilkin's death. During his evidence, Mr Vial described a struggle occurring in a vehicle on Roshine Road between Killybegs and Sliabh Liag on 25 June 2023. He stated that his co-accused, Nikita Burns, aged 23, of Carrick, County Donegal, struck the deceased twice with a rock during the altercation. Mr Vial admitted driving to Sliabh Liag and disposing of the body over the cliff face with Ms Burns. He further acknowledged washing blood from his clothing at Teelin Pier and discarding the shirt he had worn. He denied, however, having personally struck Mr Wilkin with a rock. Under cross-examination, Mr Vial resisted suggestions that he had fabricated his account to escape responsibility for the killing. He claimed instead that he had lied to gardaí to protect Ms Burns, with whom he was in a relationship, but asserted his current trial testimony is accurate. Both Mr Vial and Ms Burns have pleaded not guilty to murder. The State Pathologist identified two depressed skull fractures on the deceased inconsistent with injuries sustained in a cliff fall. Mr Wilkin's remains were recovered from the sea eight days after his death. A legal issue delayed cross-examination on CCTV evidence, with proceedings continuing before the Central Criminal Court.