Courts / Donegal / Report

Sliabh Liag accused told friend she 'battered' man with rock and 'liked it'

Summary

At the Central Criminal Court, a witness has testified that a woman accused of murdering a 66-year-old man told him she had "battered" the victim with a rock and "liked it". Chris Quinn recalled that Nikita Burns, aged 23 of Carrick, County Donegal, arrived at his home around midnight on the night after the alleged offence in June 2023. She told him and others present that she was a "murderer" and recounted an incident involving an argument with the deceased, Robert Robin Wilkin. A separate recording of a phone conversation with another witness captured Ms Burns stating that she and her co-accused Alan Vial, aged 39 of Killybegs, had driven until 3am before pushing Mr Wilkin off Sliabh Liag cliffs. She also mentioned blood on the car roof. Both Ms Burns and Mr Vial have pleaded not guilty to the murder charge. Ms Burns pleaded guilty to impeding prosecution but the prosecution did not accept this plea. The trial before Mr Justice Paul McDermott continues.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Sliabh Liag accused told friend she 'battered' man with rock and 'liked it'. Charges or matters: the murder of 66-year-old Robert 'Robin' Wilkin on June 25, 2023 in Donegal; impeding the apprehension or prosecution of another person for an arrestable offence but the prosecution did not accept her plea. Procedural stage: trial

When:

• June 25, 2023 Incident
• 2025-01-21 Publication

Why: " Ms O'Dowd told Ms Burns's defence counsel, Eoin Lawlor SC, that she recorded the conversation because Ms Burns is a vulnerable person and she thought she "was in a situation". Defence account reported by CNI

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Trial Violent Crime

Related court reports

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• Sliabh Liag murderers get appeal date
• 'It only took him six weeks to destroy me': criminal who beat, raped and coercively controlled partner to remain in prison after appeal rejected
• 'I have to have some regard to the public purse': Sliabh Liag murderers denied three senior barristers for appeal
• Criminal who raped and controlled partner rejects jury verdict, court hears
• Family 'overwhelmed' by Sliabh Liag pair's lack of remorse

Read the original CNI report