Courts / Donegal / Report

Sliabh Liag accused told gardai she was 'exaggerating' when she said she'd hit pensioner and dragged his body

Date
2025-01-29

Stage
Trial

Primary locality
Donegal

County
Donegal

Summary

A woman charged with murdering a pensioner told gardaí she had exaggerated claims made to a friend about involvement in his death, the Central Criminal Court heard on Wednesday. Nikita Burns, of Carrick, County Donegal, and Alan Vial, of Drumanoo Head, Killybegs, County Donegal, have pleaded not guilty to the murder of Robert Robin Wilkin on 25 June 2023 in Donegal. Mr Wilkin's body was discovered in waters below Sliabh Liag cliffs eight days later. Detective Garda Patrick Farrell outlined Ms Burns' account to gardaí during interviews at Ballyshannon Garda Station, in which she initially denied knowledge of events before providing a detailed statement in her third interview. Ms Burns alleged that Mr Vial struck the deceased multiple times with a rock at Roshine in Fintown and subsequently pushed his body from the cliff. Following gardaí playing a recorded conversation with a witness in which Ms Burns referenced violent acts, she stated she had been intoxicated and had overstated her involvement to protect Mr Vial.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Sliabh Liag accused told gardai she was 'exaggerating' when she said she'd hit pensioner and dragged his body. Charges or matters: the murder of 66-year-old Robert 'Robin' Wilkin on June 25, 2023 in Donegal. Procedural stage: trial

When:

June 25, 2023 Incident
June 26 Incident
2025-01-29 Publication

Why: She said she had difficulty remembering what happened because she was "really drunk" but she thought she had been in the front passenger seat of a Volkswagen Passat which was being driven by Mr Wilkin. CNI source report