Courts / Donegal / Report

'Ironically, he always wanted to be buried at sea': Sliabh Liag murder accused to gardai

Summary

Alan Vial, aged 39, of Drumanoo Head, Killybegs, County Donegal, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Robert Robin Wilkin, a 66-year-old pensioner, on 25 June 2023 in Donegal. Mr Wilkin's body was recovered eight days later in the sea below Sliabh Liag cliffs. During interview at Ballyshannon Garda Station, Mr Vial acknowledged a physical altercation at the cliff-top location but maintained that Mr Wilkin was alive and breathing when he last saw him. He denied striking the deceased with a rock or throwing him from the cliff, though he acknowledged placing Mr Wilkin over a fence approximately four metres from the cliff edge. Nikita Burns, aged 23, of Carrick, County Donegal, has also pleaded not guilty to the charge. The trial is proceeding before the Central Criminal Court.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: 'Ironically, he always wanted to be buried at sea': Sliabh Liag murder accused to gardai. 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 27, 2023 Incident
• 2025-02-04 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Trial Violent Crime

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Read the original CNI report