Alan Vial appeals murder conviction over Robert Wilkin

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

Alan Vial has appealed his murder conviction at the Court of Appeal; judgment was reserved after the hearing on 23 July 2026. Wilkin was murdered at Sliabh Liag in Donegal.

Vial’s counsel argued that testimony about statements made by co-accused Nikita Burns had prejudiced the jury and that the pair should have been tried separately. Vial accepted he was present when Wilkin was killed and helped put his body over the cliffs, but denied striking him. Counsel for Burns argued that her statements incriminating herself were involuntary. The Director of Public Prosecutions opposed the appeals, arguing there was ample evidence against Vial and that the jury had been properly directed.