Courts / Donegal / Report
Family 'overwhelmed' by Sliabh Liag pair's lack of remorse
Summary
Alan Vial and Nikita Burns were convicted of the murder of Robin Wilkin, 66, at the Central Criminal Court on Thursday following a two-month trial. Mr Justice Paul McDermott imposed the mandatory life sentence on each defendant yesterday. Vial, aged 39, from Drumanoo Head, Killybegs, and Burns, aged 23, of Carrick, County Donegal, had both pleaded not guilty to the charge. A jury returned guilty verdicts by majority, ten to two. The court heard that Mr Wilkin suffered severe head injuries after being struck multiple times with a rock near Killybegs on June 25, 2023. His body was subsequently disposed of from Sliabh Liag cliffs. At sentencing, Mr Wilkin's sister Irene McAleer delivered a victim-impact statement, stating the family was overwhelmed by the defendants' absence of remorse and distressed by the manner in which the body was discarded. Vial's sentence was backdated to July 14, 2023, and Burns' to August 29, 2023.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Family 'overwhelmed' by Sliabh Liag pair's lack of remorse. Charges or matters: Mr Wilkin's murder in Donegal on June 25, 2023. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- July 14, 2023 Other
- August 29, 2023 Other
- June 25, 2023 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2025-03-07 Publication
Case subjects
Convicted Person
Charges: Mr Wilkin's murder in Donegal on June 25, 2023 (Alleged Or Contested)
Plea: Not guilty
Outcome: Alan Vial and Nikita Burns were found guilty of 66-year-old Mr Wilkin's murder on Thursday and today Mr Justice Paul McDermott sentenced both to the mandatory term of life imprisonment. Following Ms McAleer's statement, Mr Justice Paul McDermott offered his condolences to the family before imposing the mandatory life sentences in respect of each defendant.
Convicted Person
Charges: Mr Wilkin's murder in Donegal on June 25, 2023 (Alleged Or Contested)
Plea: Not guilty
Outcome: Nikita Burns were found guilty of 66-year-old Mr Wilkin's murder on Thursday and today Mr Justice Paul McDermott sentenced both to the mandatory term of life imprisonment. Following Ms McAleer's statement, Mr Justice Paul McDermott offered his condolences to the family before imposing the mandatory life sentences in respect of each defendant.
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