Ireland Crime

Reports the closing speeches of the defence barristers at the Central Criminal Court trial, with the judge yet to charge the jury. Gives the defence accounts of the killing and the prosecution's evidence of pathology and Burns's alleged admissions. No verdict is reported.

Reports the closing stage of the murder trial of Alan Vial and Nikita Burns, who pleaded not guilty, including the prosecution's case against each, the evidence cited, and the judge's upcoming charge to the jury.

Reports the trial evidence is complete and closing speeches begin the next day. Adds Vial's evidence that Burns struck Wilkin with a rock, and the pathologist's evidence on the skull fractures, cause of death and blood found in the car.

Reports pathologist evidence given during the trial, including that the skull fractures were consistent with a blunt object such as a rock, that death would not have been immediate, and that the cause of death is undetermined. Reports the accused's defence account, that Burns struck the victim with a rock, and that the evidence is complete with closing speeches to follow. Both accused have pleaded not guilty.

Reports the trial adjourned for ten days to address a legal issue, with the trial resuming on 24 February 2025. Summarises evidence heard so far, including the pathologist's findings and a rock the prosecution says was used.

Trial adjourned for ten days from 14 February 2025 to address an issue that arose; the jury agreed to be available for the final stages. Evidence given includes a State Pathologist's findings on skull fractures, a rock found at the top of Sliabh Liag, and garda interview and direct evidence from both accused.

Vial accepted he lied in 2023 garda interviews about Mr Wilkin breathing, the place of the assault, the manner of death, and what he wore. He said Burns struck Mr Wilkin with a rock, and the trial was delayed by a legal issue.

Vial gives evidence in his own defence, saying Burns struck the victim with a rock, that he lied in garda interviews to protect her, and that the body was dropped over a cliff fence. The trial continues before a judge and jury.

Reports geologist Dr Sophie O'Connor's evidence that the rock was similar to a wall rock visible on Google Street View in 2021, and that the rock was highly unlikely to have come from the Sliabh Liag carpark area. Reports the prosecution has closed its evidence and closing speeches are due.

Adds expert geology evidence on the alleged murder weapon, the accused's garda interview account, their not guilty pleas, and that the prosecution has closed its evidence with closing speeches due to begin on Monday.

Trial evidence at the Central Criminal Court in February 2025: Nikita Burns's brother said she was off her medication and drinking before the alleged offence, and a State Pathologist said Mr Wilkin had two depressed skull fractures consistent with a blunt weapon. The prosecution case was due to finish the next day.

Reports Vial's garda interview account from the ongoing Central Criminal Court trial, including his denial of battering Wilkin with a rock and his claim that Wilkin was alive when he left. Adds the arrest date, the not-guilty pleas and the jury and judge details.

Reports Vial's garda interview accounts as heard at the Central Criminal Court trial, including his claim that Wilkin was alive when left at the cliffs and his denial of using a rock. Confirms the trial is continuing before a jury.

Trial report from the Central Criminal Court. Burns told gardaí that Vial struck Wilkin with a rock and that she exaggerated her account to a friend. She denies murder and says she did not touch the rock. The prosecution says the two accused engaged in a joint enterprise.

Adds trial evidence: Burns's garda interview statements that Vial struck Wilkin with a rock and that Vial suggested throwing the body over the cliff, her claim that she exaggerated an account to a friend, the prosecution's joint enterprise case, and the jury and judge details.

Reports forensic evidence heard at the murder trial: DNA matching Wilkin on a rock, a car roof and seat, leggings and a boot sole, plus items found on the cliffs. Both accused pleaded not guilty and the trial is ongoing.

Trial evidence from the State Pathologist on the skull fractures and bruising, and from a garda and a paramedic about the car crash and arrests later on the day of the alleged murder. Both accused have pleaded not guilty and the trial continues before a jury; no verdict is reported.

Trial report: the jury watched a CCTV montage, the prosecution set out its timeline and joint-enterprise case, and cross-examination of the Garda sergeant and two witnesses took place.

Reports trial testimony from Bruce Vial, Damien McIntyre and Michael Molloy, the jury viewing CCTV, and the trial judge and jury composition. Burns has pleaded guilty to impeding apprehension or prosecution, which the prosecution did not accept.

Trial evidence from witness Bruce Vial about a 22 June 2023 altercation between Alan Vial and Robert Wilkin, the cleaning of Vial's car and a vacuum cleaner, and the trial's court details. Burns's guilty plea to a lesser offence was not accepted by the prosecution.

Reports the Central Criminal Court trial on 21 January 2025, including recordings and witness testimony about Burns's alleged admissions. Burns pleaded guilty to impeding prosecution, which the prosecution did not accept, and both accused pleaded not guilty to murder.

Reports the trial on 21 January 2025, including a witness's account of Burns describing a rock attack and a recorded phone call in which she said they pushed Wilkin off Sliabh Liag. Also states the pleas and that Burns pleaded guilty to impeding prosecution, which the prosecution did not accept.

Reports the opening of the Central Criminal Court trial on 17 January 2025. The prosecution's joint enterprise case, each accused blaming the other, Burns's plea to impeding apprehension (not accepted by the prosecution), and the jury composition are new.

Reports the start of the trial in Dublin, the pleas entered by Vial and Burns, and that the trial is expected to last up to three weeks.

Adds that the case is before the Central Criminal Court, that 213 witnesses are in the book of evidence, that the trial is fixed for 13 January 2025 and expected to last four weeks, and that the judge urged the parties to address which evidence is not in issue. Also gives Wilkin's origin as County Tyrone and Vial's and Burns's addresses.

Both accused have been charged with murder and sent forward for trial at the Central Criminal Court. The article gives the court appearances, the adjournment date, and the scale of the investigation.

Both accused have been sent forward for trial at the Central Criminal Court, with the DPP's consent, and adjourned to 28 November. The article gives the charge date of June 25, 2023, the arrest dates, the charge dates before Ballyshannon and Letterkenny District Courts, and investigation details such as statements, interviews and crime scenes.

Court sitting on 6 November 2023: the State was given two weeks to finalise the book of evidence, defence solicitors criticised the delay, and the accused were remanded to 20 November. Adds the DPP direction for trial on indictment, investigation details, and the charge dates for each accused.

Reports that the DPP has directed trial on indictment at the Central Criminal Court, that both accused were remanded in custody until 6 November, and that books of evidence are not yet ready; gives investigation details including over 200 statements and sixteen interviews.

Adds court appearance at Letterkenny District Court, investigation scale (over 200 statements, over 200 exhibits, 16 interviews), the state of the file sent to the DPP, the remand details for Burns and Vial, and the defence solicitor's complaints about DPP delays.

Reports a Letterkenny District Court sitting in which Vial's solicitor asked the State to prioritise the case. The book of evidence was not ready, the case was adjourned to 2 October, and DPP directions in Burns's case are outstanding.

Reports the 4 September 2023 Letterkenny District Court hearing: the books of evidence are at an advanced stage, the accused appeared by video link, and the case was adjourned to 18 September. Gives Vial's age as 38 and Burns's as 21, and the arrests on 26 June and the body's recovery on 3 July.

Only the headline contains article content. The body text is template code with no report, so the date, names and circumstances are not available.

Reports Nikita Burns's arrest, charge with murder and remand at a special sitting of Letterkenny District Court on 29 August 2023, adds her caution and comment, and notes that Alan Vial was previously charged and is in custody.

Adds that a woman in her 20s was arrested in the Letterkenny area on Monday, charged with murder, and due before a special sitting of Letterkenny District Court on 29 August 2023. Also notes that the body was recovered on 3 July and that Vial was previously charged with murder.

The article body is website template code with no news text. The only usable content is the headline, which reports an arrest in connection with a fatality at Slieve League.

Reports Vial's court appearance at Letterkenny District Court on 10 August 2023, his remand in custody, the adjournment to 4 September and the charge wording, including the date of 25 June 2023 and the Robin Wilkin alias.

Reports the initial charging of Alan Vial at Ballyshannon Court, details of his arrest in Letterkenny, the search and recovery of Wilkin's body, the post mortem, and background on Wilkin's 2021 NCA drug importation case in England.

Early report: identity not yet confirmed by DNA, NCA assisting the Garda inquiry, and a man in his 30s and woman in her 20s arrested and released without charge. Says Wilkin was arrested by the NCA in 2021 on drugs charges, which is background only.