Co. Donegal • 33 stories • Since 05 Jul 2016 • Latest 22 Jun 2026
TOMMY BLAINE & KELSEA BOYLE — MEENYHOOGAN KILLYBEGS DONEGAL PO CO. DONEGAL. CONSTRUCTION OF NEW DWELLING HOUSE, INSTALLATION OF PROPRIETARY SEWERAGE TREATMENT SYSTEM AND PERCOL...
Alan Vial and Nikita Burns, who were convicted in March 2025 of murdering Robert Robin Wilkin at Sliabh Liag in County Donegal, have been granted a hearing date for their conviction appeals. Vial, aged 39, of Drumanoo Head, Killybegs, and Burns, aged 23, of Carrick, had pleaded not guilty to the charge relating to events on 25 June 2023. A jury rejected their competing accounts of responsibility for the death. The…
A man convicted of assaulting, raping and coercively controlling his partner over a six-week period has had his appeal against conviction dismissed by the Court of Appeal. Dean Ward, aged 38, formerly of County Wexford, was sentenced to seventeen years imprisonment following his conviction in June 2022 on twelve offences committed between June and July 2019. The offences, which occurred while the victim resided in…
Alan Vial and Nikita Burns, convicted of murdering Robert Wilkin near Sliabh Liag in County Donegal, have been denied legal aid for a third senior barrister to represent them in their Court of Appeal bid to overturn their convictions. Mr Justice John Edwards ruled that legal aid would cover two counsel per defendant, stating he must have regard to public resources. Vial, aged 39, from Killybegs, and Burns, aged 23…
A man convicted of raping, assaulting and coercively controlling a woman over a six-week period has appealed his conviction at the Court of Appeal, arguing his trial was prejudiced by inadmissible evidence. Dean Ward, aged 38, was found guilty in June 2022 of twelve offences committed between June and July 2019 against a woman in Killybegs, County Donegal. He received a sentence of eighteen years, suspended by one…
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…
At the Central Criminal Court, Alan Vial and Nikita Burns have been convicted of the murder of Robert Wilkin, a 66-year-old man whose body was disposed of at Sliabh Liag in County Donegal in June 2023. Following an altercation on the Roshine Road near Killybegs, the accused struck Mr Wilkin with a rock before transporting his body to the clifftop and casting it into the Atlantic Ocean. The pair subsequently stole…
A jury has begun deliberations in the Central Criminal Court in the murder trial of two Co Donegal residents. Alan Vial, aged 39, from Drumanoo Head in Killybegs, and Nikita Burns, aged 23, from Carrick, have each pleaded not guilty to the murder of Robert Robin Wilkin on 25 June 2023. The 66-year-old's body was discovered at Sliabh Liag. The prosecution alleges both accused engaged in a joint enterprise to cause…
At the Central Criminal Court, Mr Justice Paul McDermott has warned the jury that it would be dangerous to rely on the testimony of Alan Vial, who has implicated his co-accused Nikita Burns in the death of Robert Wilkin. Both deny murdering the 66-year-old man, whose body was discovered in the sea near Sliabh Liag in Donegal on June 33, 2023, eight days after he died. The prosecution alleges that Vial and Burns were…
At the Central Criminal Court, closing arguments concluded in the trial of two people charged with the murder of Robert Robin Wilkin near Sliabh Liag in County Donegal on 25 June 2023. Nikita Burns (23) of Carrick and Alan Vial (39) of Drumanoo Head, Killybegs, have both pleaded not guilty to the charge. Defence counsel for Ms Burns contended she was a bystander to the killing and had no part in placing Mr Wilkin…
At the Central Criminal Court, the prosecution has described Alan Vial, aged 39, of Killybegs, County Donegal, as a "cynical liar" who fabricated his account to evade responsibility for the death of 66-year-old Robert Robin' Wilkin. Bernard Condon SC, prosecuting, told the jury that Mr Vial claimed his co-accused Nikita Burns, aged 23, of Carrick, County Donegal, delivered the fatal blows after the three had spent…
At the Central Criminal Court, the State Pathologist gave evidence in the trial of two individuals charged with the murder of a man alleged to have been pushed from Sliabh Liag cliffs in County Donegal in June 2023. Dr Margaret Bolster told the court that two skull fractures identified on the deceased would not have caused immediate death if they were the only injuries sustained. She stated the fractures were…
The trial of Alan Vial and Nikita Burns at the Central Criminal Court has been adjourned for ten days to allow legal representatives to address an outstanding matter. Both defendants deny murdering Robert Robin Wilkin, whose body was discovered in the sea below Sliabh Liag in Donegal in July 2023, eight days after his alleged death on 25 June. Mr Justice Paul McDermott informed the jury of twelve that proceedings…
RICHARD TIMONY ON BEHALF OF THE SEAMANSHIP CENTRE — ROSHINE ROAD KILLYBEGS DONEGAL PO CO. DONEGAL. CHANGE OF USE OF PART OF EXISTING PREMISES TO PROVIDE STUDENT ACCOMMODATION CONTAINING 5 NO. BEDROOM...
MULMOSOG WIND LIMITED is seeking permission (1) ERECTION OF THREE 4.5 MEGAWATTS (MW) WIND TURBINES WITH A BLADE TIP HEIGHT OF 150M CONSISTING OF A ROTOR DIAMETER OF 136M AND A HUB HEIGHT OF 82M, (2) ERECTION OF ONE 4.2 MEGAWATTS (MW) WIND TURBINE WITH A BLADE TIP HEIGHT OF 135M CONSISTING OF A ROTOR DIAMETER OF 117M AND A HUB HEIGHT OF 76.5M, (3) CONSTRUCTION OF TURBINE FOUNDATIONS, CRANE…
NOEL MARTYN is seeking permission CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW GARAGE AND ASSOCIATED SITE WORKS at BALLYARA, KILLYBEGS, DONEGAL PO, CO. DONEGAL. New Application.
A planning application has been filed with Donegal County Council under reference 2660873. Status not recorded.
GARY & MAIREAD ANDERSON ON BEHALF OF NORWEST HOSPITALITY LTD. is seeking permission (1) RETENTION OF FORMER WINDOW PREVIOUSLY BUILT UP AND NOW RE-OPENED TO THE SIDE OF THE SINGLE STOREY PART OF THE EXISTING BUILDING AND (2) CHANGE OF USE OF THE SINGLE STOREY PART TO A COFFEE TAKE AWAY AND ASSOCIATED SITE WORKS at MAIN STREET, CORPORATION, KILLYBEGS DONEGAL PO, CO. DONEGAL. New Application.
CATHERINE GALLAGHER is seeking permission PARTIAL DEMOLITION OF EXISTING TWO-STOREY HOUSE AND CONSTRUCTION OF A SINGLE-STOREY BUNGALOW AND ALL ANCILLARY SITEWORKS NECESSARY at ROSHIN, KILLYBEGS, DONEGAL PO, CO. DONEGAL. New Application.
Cases and rulings mentioning Killybegs from local newspapers and Courts News Ireland.
Alan Vial and Nikita Burns, who were convicted in March 2025 of murdering Robert Robin Wilkin at Sliabh Liag in County Donegal, have been granted a hearing date for their conviction appeals. Vial, aged 39, of Drumanoo Head, Killybegs, and Burns, aged 23, of Carrick, had pleaded...
A man convicted of assaulting, raping and coercively controlling his partner over a six-week period has had his appeal against conviction dismissed by the Court of Appeal. Dean Ward, aged 38, formerly of County Wexford, was sentenced to seventeen years imprisonment following...
Alan Vial and Nikita Burns, convicted of murdering Robert Wilkin near Sliabh Liag in County Donegal, have been denied legal aid for a third senior barrister to represent them in their Court of Appeal bid to overturn their convictions. Mr Justice John Edwards ruled that legal...
A man convicted of raping, assaulting and coercively controlling a woman over a six-week period has appealed his conviction at the Court of Appeal, arguing his trial was prejudiced by inadmissible evidence. Dean Ward, aged 38, was found guilty in June 2022 of twelve offences...
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,...
Alan Vial and Nikita Burns have been found guilty of murdering 66-year-old Robert Wilkin at the Central Criminal Court. The jury returned majority verdicts of ten to two against each accused. Wilkin's body was discovered in the sea below Sliabh Liag cliffs in County Donegal on...
At the Central Criminal Court, Alan Vial and Nikita Burns have been convicted of the murder of Robert Wilkin, a 66-year-old man whose body was disposed of at Sliabh Liag in County Donegal in June 2023. Following an altercation on the Roshine Road near Killybegs, the accused...
A jury has begun deliberations in the Central Criminal Court in the murder trial of two Co Donegal residents. Alan Vial, aged 39, from Drumanoo Head in Killybegs, and Nikita Burns, aged 23, from Carrick, have each pleaded not guilty to the murder of Robert Robin Wilkin on 25...
At the Central Criminal Court, Mr Justice Paul McDermott has warned the jury that it would be dangerous to rely on the testimony of Alan Vial, who has implicated his co-accused Nikita Burns in the death of Robert Wilkin. Both deny murdering the 66-year-old man, whose body was...
At the Central Criminal Court, closing arguments concluded in the trial of two people charged with the murder of Robert Robin Wilkin near Sliabh Liag in County Donegal on 25 June 2023. Nikita Burns (23) of Carrick and Alan Vial (39) of Drumanoo Head, Killybegs, have both...
At the Central Criminal Court, the prosecution has described Alan Vial, aged 39, of Killybegs, County Donegal, as a "cynical liar" who fabricated his account to evade responsibility for the death of 66-year-old Robert Robin' Wilkin. Bernard Condon SC, prosecuting, told the jury...
At the Central Criminal Court, the State Pathologist gave evidence in the trial of two individuals charged with the murder of a man alleged to have been pushed from Sliabh Liag cliffs in County Donegal in June 2023. Dr Margaret Bolster told the court that two skull fractures...
The trial of Alan Vial and Nikita Burns at the Central Criminal Court has been adjourned for ten days to allow legal representatives to address an outstanding matter. Both defendants deny murdering Robert Robin Wilkin, whose body was discovered in the sea below Sliabh Liag in...
Alan Vial, aged 39, of Drumanoo Head, Killybegs, County Donegal, denied during cross-examination at the Central Criminal Court that he fabricated allegations against his co-accused to evade responsibility for the death of Robert Robin Wilkin, aged 66. Mr Vial, who has pleaded...
A man accused of murdering a 66-year-old pensioner at Sliabh Liag in County Donegal has admitted to gardaí that he fabricated allegations of sexual assault during questioning in 2023. Alan Vial, aged 39, told the Central Criminal Court that he and his co-accused devised a false...
A 39-year-old man accused of murder has testified at the Central Criminal Court that his co-accused struck the alleged victim with a rock, causing the pensioner's death. Alan Vial, of Drumanoo Head, Killybegs, County Donegal, told the court he was physically struggling with...
A geologist has given evidence at the Central Criminal Court that a bloodied rock allegedly used in the murder of a pensioner near Sliabh Liag in Donegal was most likely transported to the scene by human activity rather than occurring naturally there. Dr Sophie O'Connor of the...
At the Central Criminal Court, a witness told how he harboured growing concerns about his sister's wellbeing in the period preceding an alleged murder in Donegal. The brother of Nikita Burns said he was worried that she had ceased taking prescribed medication for her bipolar...
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...
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...