Ireland Case No. 7592Murder · Co. Donegal · 25 Jun 2023
Two charged with murder of Robert Wilkin, body found off Sliabh Liag
Robert Wilkin, a man in his 60s from Northern Ireland, was reported missing, and his body was found in the water off the Sliabh Liag cliffs in Co Donegal on 3 July 2023 after a week-long search. Gardaí believe he was assaulted and died during an attack, with his remains then dumped at sea, and the charges state the alleged murder took place on 25 June 2023. Alan Vial, 38, of Drumanoo Head, Killybegs, was arrested in Letterkenny on 13 July and charged with the murder on 14 July, and Nikita Burns, 21, was arrested in Bundoran on 28 August and charged with the same murder on 29 August. Both have been remanded in custody, and on 4 September 2023 both appeared separately by videolink at Letterkenny District Court, with Vial's next appearance set for 18 September 2023, the date also given for Burns's case.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrested13 Jul
3 reports - Charged14 Jul
- In court14 Jul
7 reports - Verdict
- Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Robert Wilkin, a man in his 60s from Northern Ireland, is the victim named in the case.
- Where
- His body was found in the water off the Sliabh Liag cliffs in Co Donegal.
- When
- The charges state the alleged murder took place on 25 June 2023 at a place unknown within the State.
- His remains were found on 3 July 2023 after a week-long search.
- Cause
- Gardaí believe the victim was assaulted and died during an attack, and his remains were then dumped at sea.
- Investigation
- The investigation began after a tip-off to gardaí that a serious assault had taken place, and Britain's National Crime Agency assisted.
- Alan Vial, 38, of Drumanoo Head, Killybegs, was arrested at an address in Letterkenny on 13 July and held under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984.
- Nikita Burns, 21, was arrested at Westend, Bundoran, on 28 August 2023 and taken to Letterkenny Garda Station for questioning.
- A book of evidence in the case was described as being at an advanced stage, and a full post-mortem has been carried out, though gardaí have not released the results.
- Charges
- Vial was charged with the murder of Robert Wilkin at a special sitting of Ballyshannon District Court on 14 July 2023 and made no reply.
- Burns was charged with the murder of Robert Wilkin at a special sitting of Letterkenny District Court on 29 August 2023 and replied 'I didn't do it'.
- In court
- No bail application was made for Vial because of the nature of the charge, and he was remanded in custody.
- Burns was remanded in custody, was granted legal aid, and her case was adjourned to allow for directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions.
- On 4 September 2023 Vial and Burns appeared separately by videolink at Letterkenny District Court, and Vial was remanded in custody to appear again on 18 September 2023.
106 statements extracted from the articles
- whatThe body of a man in his 60s was found off the Sliabh Liag cliffs after an extensive search. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe victim is thought to be Robert Wilkin, aged in his mid-60s and from Northern Ireland. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatA 38-year-old man has been charged with the murder of a man whose body was found in the water off the Sliabh Liag cliffs. (irishtimes.com)
- whatA man has appeared in court charged with murdering a man whose body was found in water off Sliabh Liag cliffs in Co Donegal. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatA man has been remanded in custody after being charged with the murder of another man whose body was found off cliffs in Co Donegal. (irishtimes.com)
- whatRobert Wilkins's body was found off cliffs at Sliabh Liag after a major search. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe body was found off cliffs at Sliabh Liag in Co Donegal. (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe charge states the offence took place at a place unknown within the State. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe alleged murder took place at a place unknown within the State. (irishtimes.com)
- whereMr Vial is from Drumanoo Head, Killybegs. (irishtimes.com)
- whereMr Wilkin's remains were found in the water near Sliabh Liag. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe woman was arrested in Letterkenny and taken to Letterkenny Garda Station, where she was being questioned. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereNikita Burns was charged with murder at a special sitting of Letterkenny District Court. (irishtimes.com)
- whereBody found floating in waters off the Sliabh Liag cliffs in Co Donegal. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe murder is alleged to have happened at a place unknown within the State. (irishtimes.com)
- whereMr Wilkin's remains were found off Sliabh Liag. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe alleged assault was between Saturday June 24 and Sunday June 25. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe body was discovered on 4 July 2023. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenA man in his 30s was arrested on Thursday. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe murder is alleged to have taken place on June 25th at a place unknown within the State. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe charge states the offence was committed on 25 June 2023. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe murder is alleged to have taken place on June 25th 2023. (irishtimes.com)
- whenWilkin's remains were found in the water on July 3rd. (irishtimes.com)
- whenNikita Burns was charged with murdering Robert Wilkin on June 25th, 2023. (irishtimes.com)
- whenBody found on 3 July after a week-long search. (irishmirror.ie)
- causeGardaí believe the victim was assaulted and died during an attack before his remains were dumped at sea. (irishtimes.com)
- causeThe discovery followed claims that a man had been seriously assaulted and his remains dumped. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationGardaí rearrested a man at a Letterkenny address early on Thursday morning. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe man rearrested is in his 30s and was taken to Ballyshannon Garda Station for questioning. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe suspect is understood to be one of two people previously arrested and released without charge. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationBritain's National Crime Agency had been assisting gardaí in the investigation. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationGardaí arrested a man at an address in Letterkenny. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe arrested man, in his 30s, was taken to Ballyshannon Garda Station for questioning. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe suspect is believed to be one of two people previously arrested and released without charge. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe arrest was part of an investigation into an alleged assault at Sliabh Liag at the end of June. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe body of a man in his 60s was found after an extensive search of the area over a number of days. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationVial was previously arrested with a woman in her 20s on June 26th on suspicion of a serious assault. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe investigation began with information to gardaí that led to a large-scale search off Sliabh Liag. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationA body was recovered on July 3rd after a major operation involving gardaí, the Irish Coast Guard and the Donegal Mountain Rescue Team. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationVial was arrested in an early morning Garda swoop at an address in Letterkenny the day before his court appearance. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationAfter being charged, the accused made no reply. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe investigation began after a tip-off to gardaí that a serious assault had taken place. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationA full post-mortem has been carried out on Wilkin's remains, but gardaí have not released the results for operational reasons. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe charges followed a large-scale search involving gardaí, the Irish Coast Guard and other agencies. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe search followed a tip-off to gardaí that a serious assault had taken place. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationA postmortem has been carried out on Mr Wilkin's remains, but gardaí have not released the results. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationA man was later arrested and charged with the murder. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationGardaí confirmed that a woman in her 20s was arrested in connection with the incident. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe woman is detained at a Garda station in Donegal under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationGardaí arrested Nikita Burns on August 28th at 9.53pm at Westend, Bundoran. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationNikita Burns was arrested on 28 August at Westend, Bundoran. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe arrests followed a weeks-long search for Mr Wilkin's remains. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe book of evidence was described as being at an advanced stage, though the garda said he was not sure it was ready. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeThe arrested man has been charged. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeVial was charged with the murder of Robert (Robin) Wilkin. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeVial was charged with murdering Robert Wilkin. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeVial has been charged with the murder of Robert Wilkin. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeAlan Vial has been charged with the murder of Robert Wilkin on June 25th at a place unknown within the State. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeAlan Vial was charged with the murder at a special sitting of Ballyshannon District Court on July 14th. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeAlan Vial, 38, had earlier appeared in court charged with the murder of Robert Wilkin. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeAlan Vial was charged with the murder on 14 July. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeBurns was charged with murdering Robert Wilkin on 25 June 2023 at a place unknown within the State. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe accused is due before a special sitting of Ballyshannon District Court on Friday afternoon. (irishtimes.com)
- courtVial appeared before Judge Éiteáin Cunningham at a special sitting of Ballyshannon Court after being arrested in Letterkenny. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe accused did not speak during the short hearing. (irishtimes.com)
- courtVial made no reply after being charged. (irishtimes.com)
- courtNo bail application was made because of the nature of the charge. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe case was adjourned back to Letterkenny District Court on Monday. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe defence asked that the accused receive all required medical treatment in custody, and the Garda Superintendent agreed. (irishtimes.com)
- courtAlan Vial appeared at a special sitting of Ballyshannon Court this afternoon. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtNo application for bail was made because of the nature of the charge. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe case was adjourned to Letterkenny District Court by videolink on Monday, 17 July, for service of a book of evidence. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtAlan Vial appeared by videolink at Letterkenny District Court on Monday. (irishtimes.com)
- courtVial's solicitor was told that a book of evidence in the case is not ready yet. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe case was adjourned to August 10th. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThere is a consent to an extension of the remand. (irishtimes.com)
- courtAlan Vial appeared by video-link at Letterkenny District Court. (irishtimes.com)
- courtAlan Vial has been remanded in custody to allow a book of evidence to be served. (irishtimes.com)
- courtSolicitor Patsy Gallagher asked for the case to be adjourned until September 4th. (irishtimes.com)
- courtAlan Vial is being held in custody and is due to appear again in court in September. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtGardaí asked the court to remand Nikita Burns in custody until September 4th. (irishtimes.com)
- courtBail did not arise, and legal aid was granted to Nikita Burns. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe case was adjourned until September 3rd to seek directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions. (irishtimes.com)
- courtNikita Burns was charged with the murder at a special sitting of Letterkenny District Court. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtLegal aid was granted to Burns. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtGardaí asked for Burns to be remanded in custody until 4 September, to appear at Letterkenny District Court by videolink. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe case was adjourned until 3 September to seek directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtVial was remanded in custody and is due back before the courts in September. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtAlan Vial and Nikita Burns appeared separately by videolink at Letterkenny District Court. (irishtimes.com)
- courtMr Vial was remanded in custody to appear again by videolink on 18 September 2023. (irishtimes.com)
- courtMs Burns's case was adjourned to 18 September 2023 to allow for directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe man is being held under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe victim is believed to be Robert Wilkin, from Northern Ireland, who had been reported missing. (irishtimes.com)
- otherMr Wilkin's remains were released from Letterkenny University Hospital to his family on Wednesday. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe body was found after an extensive search of the area over several days. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherMr Wilkin's remains were released to his family. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe accused, Alan Vial, is of Drumanoo Head, Killybegs. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe victim was in his mid-60s and from Northern Ireland. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe victim was a man in his mid-60s from Northern Ireland. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherVial said he was happy with the remand in custody. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThere are also summary matters for Mr Vial of a different nature. (irishtimes.com)
- otherRobert Wilkin, in his 60s and from Northern Ireland, was found on July 3rd after a week-long search. (irishtimes.com)
- otherWhen charged, Nikita Burns replied that she did not do it. (irishtimes.com)
- otherBurns replied 'I didn't do it.' when charged. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherWhen the charge was first put to Ms Burns on 28 August, she replied that she did not do it. (irishtimes.com)
- otherMr Wilkin was originally from Northern Ireland. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 4 Sep2023Book of evidence on Sliabh Liag murder charge ‘at advanced stage’
Court appearance by two people charged with the murder of Robert Wilkin; the book of evidence is described as at an advanced stage.
accused, Alan Vial, 38, male, namedAlan Vialaccused, Nikita Burns, 21, female, namedNikita Burnsvictim, Robert Wilkin, 60s, male, irish (judged from name)Robert Wilkin - 29 Aug2023Woman charged with murder of man found in water in Donegal
Adds that Nikita Burns, 21, was charged at a special sitting of Letterkenny District Court, arrested in Bundoran on 28 August, and remanded in custody. It names Alan Vial as the first person charged, on 14 July, and says the case was adjourned to 3 September for DPP directions.
victim, Robert Wilkin, 60s, male, irish (judged from name)Robert Wilkinaccused, Alan Vial, 38, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Alan Vialaccused, Nikita Burns, 21, female, named, irish (judged from name)Nikita Burns - 29 Aug2023Woman (21) charged with murder of man whose body was found off Sliabh Liag cliffs
Adds that Nikita Burns, 21, was charged at Letterkenny District Court, arrested on 28 August at Westend, Bundoran, said "I didn't do it", and remanded in custody to 4 September. The case was adjourned to 3 September for directions from the DPP.
victim, Robert Wilkin, 60s, male, irish (judged from name)Robert Wilkinaccused, Nikita Burns, 21, female, named, irish (judged from name)Nikita Burnsaccused, Alan Vial, 38, male, namedAlan Vial - 28 Aug2023Woman arrested in connection with death of man whose body was found off cliffs
Adds that a woman in her 20s was arrested in Letterkenny in connection with the death and is being questioned. Confirms Alan Vial remains in custody and is due back in court in September.
victim, Robert Wilkins, 60s, male, irish (judged from name)Robert Wilkinssuspect, 20s, femaleaccused, Alan Vial, 38, male, named at arrest, non-irish (judged from name)Alan Vial - 10 Aug2023Man charged with Donegal murder remanded in custody
Reports the first court appearance of Alan Vial by video-link at Letterkenny District Court, where he was remanded in custody and the case was adjourned to September 4th for a book of evidence. Adds his home area, the search and investigation background, and that there are separate summary matters.
accused, Alan Vial, 38, male, namedAlan Vialvictim, Robert Wilkin, maleRobert Wilkin - 17 Jul2023Man remanded in custody over murder charge related to body found off Donegal cliffs
Court appearance by videolink at Letterkenny District Court. Vial remanded in custody, with consent to an extension of the remand. Book of evidence not ready. Case adjourned to August 10th. Adds Wilkin's body found on July 3rd and the post-mortem.
accused, Alan Vial, 38, male, namedAlan Vialvictim, Robert Wilkin, maleRobert Wilkin - 14 Jul2023Man charged over murder of man found floating in water off Donegal cliffs
Adds that Vial was arrested in an early morning Garda swoop at an address in Letterkenny on 13 July, appeared at a special sitting of Ballyshannon Court on 14 July, made no reply after being charged, and that no bail application was made. The case was adjourned to Letterkenny District Court by videolink on 17 July for service of a book of evidence. It also gives Wilkin's age range and that he was from Northern Ireland.
victim, Robert Wilkin, mid-60s, maleRobert Wilkinaccused, Alan Vial, 38, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Alan Vial - 14 Jul2023Man (38) charged with murder after body found near Sliabh Liag in Co Donegal
Reports the charge and court appearance: Vial was arrested in Letterkenny, appeared at a special sitting of Ballyshannon Court, made no reply, and no bail application was made. It also records the victim's age and origin, Vial's address, and that the body was recovered on July 3rd.
victim, Robert (Robin) Wilkin, mid-60s, male, irish (judged from name)Robert (Robin) Wilkinaccused, Alan Vial, 38, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Alan Vialsuspect, 20s, female - 14 Jul2023Man (30s) due in court in connection with discovery of body in Donegal
Confirms that a man in his 30s was arrested on Thursday and has been charged over an alleged assault at Sliabh Liag at the end of June; he is due in court on Friday afternoon. The article does not name him or the victim.
accused, 30s, malevictim, 60s, male - 13 Jul2023Arrest made after man 'thrown off cliff' as gardai swoop house in Donegal
Adds a new arrest of a man in his 30s at an address in Letterkenny, who is believed to be one of two people previously arrested and released without charge. Says the victim is thought to be Robert Wilkin and that his remains were released to his family.
suspect, 30s, malevictim, Robert Wilkin, mid-60s, male, irish (judged from name)Robert Wilkin - 13 Jul2023Sliabh Liag death: Man held in connection with body found in Co Donegal
Reports the rearrest of a man in his 30s in the Sliabh Liag investigation, that he is held under Section 4, that he was taken to Ballyshannon Garda Station, and that the NCA assisted the investigation. Names the victim as Robert Wilkin, from Northern Ireland, in his mid-60s.
victim, Robert Wilkin, mid-60s, male, irish (judged from name)Robert Wilkinsuspect, 30s, male