Named in reporting

Alan Vial

Born 1985, from the ages reported. 85 reports across 3 cases, 14 Jul 2023 to 23 Jul 2026

Suspect: Alan Vial, non-Irish man, 41 (judged from name)Alan Vial

Key facts

from every report naming them
Named as
Convicted, accused, suspect
Born
1985, from the ages reported
Offences
Murder, Driving without insurance, Drug-driving and dangerous driving
Where
Co. Donegal
Reporting
85 reports, 14 Jul 2023 to 23 Jul 2026
Outlets
donegallive.ie, irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie, thejournal.ie, gript.ie, rte.ie

Photographs

as published, with the outlet's credit

Images are shown from the outlet that published them and link back to the article. Copyright stays with the credited photographer or agency.

Cases

latest first
  • Vial and Burns appeal Sliabh Liag murder convictions Murder · Co. Donegal

    Robert 'Robin' Wilkin, a 66-year-old man from County Tyrone, Northern Ireland, was allegedly struck on the head with a rock at Roshine near Killybegs and his body thrown over the Sliabh Liag cliffs in Donegal on 25 June 2023, with his remains recovered from the sea on 3 July. Alan Vial, 41, of Drumanoo Head, Killybegs, and Nikita Burns, 25, of Carrick, Co Donegal, were charged with his murder in July and August 2023 after initially being arrested and released without charge on 26 June. A Central Criminal Court jury found both guilty of murder by a 10-2 majority on 6 March 2025, and they were sentenced to mandatory life imprisonment the following day. The pair are now appealing their convictions at the Court of Appeal, where judgment was reserved on 23 July 2026.

    Sentenced, 7 Mar 2025Convicted, accused, suspect · 83 reports
  • Alan Vial fined and disqualified for driving without insurance at Falcarragh court Driving without insurance · Co. Donegal

    Alan Vial, a 38-year-old man from Drumanoo Head, Killybegs, Donegal, was charged with driving without insurance, with the offence dated to February 2023. The case was heard at Falcarragh District Court, where the court was told Vial had a previous conviction for the same offence that carried a two-year disqualification. Judge Cunningham convicted Vial on the second no-insurance charge, fined him €250 and disqualified him from driving for four years, concurrent with the existing ban. The latest development, reported on 19 June 2024, is this conviction and sentence, while Vial remains in custody at Castlerea Prison awaiting trial for murder.

    Convicted, 19 Jun 2024Convicted · 1 report
  • Alan Vial banned for six years after drug-driving and dangerous driving charges Drug-driving and dangerous driving · Co. Donegal

    Alan Vial, 38, from Donegal, was caught speeding while under the influence of drugs on the Donegal Town-Ballybofey road, near McClay's Corner in Stranorlar, on a date the sources do not give. A roadside test found him positive for cocaine and cannabis, and after his arrest he was taken to Letterkenny Garda Station and released three hours later because no medical professional was available for a further test. He was charged with drug-driving and two counts of dangerous driving in February 2023, and Buncrana District Court, with Vial not present, imposed a six-year driving ban, reported on 30 May 2024. Vial is now in custody at Castlerea Prison awaiting trial on a charge of murdering Robert Wilkin, a separate case.

    Sentenced, 29 May 2024Convicted · 1 report

Timeline

every report naming Alan Vial, newest first

Each entry shows how that report described them.

  1. 23 Jul2026
    Sliabh Liag murderers appeal convictions at Central Criminal Court
    convicted, Alan Vial, 41, male, namedAlan Vial
  2. 23 Jul2026
    Pair convicted of murdering man and throwing his body over Donegal cliffs launch appeal
    convicted, Alan Vial, 41, male, named, irish (judged from name)Alan Vial
  3. 23 Jul2026
    Ex-lovers who beat man to death and threw him off cliff in bid for freedom
    convicted, Alan Vial, 41, male, named, irish (judged from name)Alan Vial
  4. 1 Jul2026
    Pair found guilty of murdering man whose body was thrown over Sliabh Liag cliffs appeal convictions
    convicted, Alan Vial, 41, male, namedAlan Vial
  5. 20 Jun2025
    Sliabh Liag murderers denied legal aid for third barrister at Court of Appeal
    convicted, Alan Vial, 39, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Alan Vial
  6. 8 Mar2025
    The full story as to how a jury found Burns and Vial guilty of Sliabh Liag murder
    convicted, Alan Vial, male, named, irish (judged from name)Alan Vial
  7. 7 Mar2025
    Donegal pair sentenced to life imprisonment for murder at Sliabh Liag
    convicted, Alan Vial, 39, male, namedAlan Vial
  8. 7 Mar2025
    Life in prison for pair who dumped man's body off Ireland's tallest sea cliffs
    convicted, Alan Vial, 39, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Alan Vial
  9. 7 Mar2025
    Sliabh Liag murder case: Victim’s sister says nothing could have prepared her for ‘evil and harrowing details’
    convicted, Alan Vial, 39, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Alan Vial
  10. 6 Mar2025
    Sliabh Liag case: How Alan Vial and Nikita Burns were convicted of murdering Robert Wilkin
    suspect, Alan Vial, 39, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Alan Vial
  11. 6 Mar2025
    Two people found guilty of murdering man (66) whose body was thrown over Sliabh Liag cliffs
    convicted, Alan Vial, 39, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Alan Vial
  12. 6 Mar2025
    Man and woman found guilty of murdering Robert Wilkin after row in car - Gript
    convicted, Alan Vial, 39, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Alan Vial
  13. 6 Mar2025
    Nikita Burns and Alan Vial found guilty of murdering Robert Wilkin at Sliabh Liag
    convicted, Alan Vial, 39, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Alan Vial
  14. 6 Mar2025
    Man and woman guilty of murder of man whose body was thrown off famous cliffs
    convicted, Alan Vial, 39, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Alan Vial
  15. 6 Mar2025
    Pair found guilty of murdering man, 66, in Co Donegal
    convicted, Alan Vial, 39, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Alan Vial
  16. 5 Mar2025
    Sliabh Liag murder trial: Jury deliberations to go into third day
    accused, Alan Vial, 39, named, non-irish (judged from name)Alan Vial
  17. 5 Mar2025
    Jury asks for explanation of joint enterprise in Sliabh Liag murder trial
    accused, Alan Vial, 39, named, non-irish (judged from name)Alan Vial
  18. 4 Mar2025
    Jury begins deliberations in Sliabh Liag murder trial
    accused, Alan Vial, 39, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Alan Vial
  19. 4 Mar2025
    Possible alternative verdicts may be reached in Sliabh Liag murder trial
    accused, Alan Vial, 39, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Alan Vial
  20. 27 Feb2025
    Sliabh Liag murder trial jury warned it could be dangerous to act on testimony of accused
    accused, Alan Vial, 39, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Alan Vial
  21. 26 Feb2025
    Court hears accused is “guilty of being an idiot” but “not of murder” - Gript
    accused, Alan Vial, 39, male, namedAlan Vial
  22. 26 Feb2025
    'Smouldering resentment' exploded into violence in Sliabh Liag killing, court told by barrister
    accused, Alan Vial, 39, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Alan Vial
  23. 25 Feb2025
    Sliabh Liag murder trial: Man accused has heaped ‘lies upon lies’, jury hears
    accused, Alan Vial, 39, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Alan Vial
  24. 25 Feb2025
    Sliabh Liag murder accused 'is a cynical liar attempting to make fools of a jury'
    accused, Alan Vial, 39, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Alan Vial
  25. 24 Feb2025
    Man would not have died immediately from skull fractures, Sliabh Liag murder trial hears
    accused, Alan Vial, 39, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Alan Vial
  26. 24 Feb2025
    Sliabh Liag victim would not have died immediately from injuries before cliff fall, trial hears
    accused, Alan Vial, 39, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Alan Vial
  27. 24 Feb2025
    Closing speeches to come after ten-day hiatus in Sliabh Liag murder trial
    accused, Alan Vial, 39, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Alan Vial
  28. 14 Feb2025
    Sliabh Liag murder trial adjourned for 10 days
    accused, Alan Vial, 39, male, namedAlan Vial
  29. 14 Feb2025
    Trial adjourned for ten days in Sliabh Liag murder case
    accused, Alan Vial, 39, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Alan Vial
  30. 11 Feb2025
    Sliabh Liag murder accused admits lying to gardaí about victim sexually abusing co-accused
    accused, Alan Vial, 39, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Alan Vial
  31. 11 Feb2025
    Sliabh Liag murder accused lied about deceased sexually assaulting co-accused
    accused, Alan Vial, 39, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Alan Vial
  32. 10 Feb2025
    Murder accused claims his former partner hit victim on head with rock
    accused, Alan Vial, 39, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Alan Vial
  33. 10 Feb2025
    Sliabh Liag murder accused tells trial his co-accused struck deceased with a rock
    accused, Alan Vial, 39, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Alan Vial
  34. 7 Feb2025
    Google Street View used to help identify source of Sliabh Liag murder weapon
    accused, Alan Vial, 39, male, namedAlan Vial
  35. 7 Feb2025
    Geologist used Google Street View to identify possible source of Donegal murder weapon, trial hears
    accused, Alan Vial, 39, male, namedAlan Vial
  36. 6 Feb2025
    Brother of Sliabh Liag murder accused was concerned sister was off her medication
    accused, Alan Vial, 39, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Alan Vial
  37. 4 Feb2025
    Murder accused told gardaí deceased was alive when he left him at Donegal cliffs
    accused, Alan Vial, 39, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Alan Vial
  38. 4 Feb2025
    Pensioner found dead at Sliabh Liag was alive when left at cliffs, murder accused told gardaí
    accused, Alan Vial, 39, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Alan Vial
  39. 4 Feb2025
    Murder accused says deceased man may 'have rolled over the edge' of Sliabh Liag
    accused, Alan Vial, 39, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Alan Vial
  40. 29 Jan2025
    Sliabh Liag trial: Murder accused was 'a bit manic' when she told friend she struck deceased
    accused, Alan Vial, 39, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Alan Vial
  41. 29 Jan2025
    Sliabh Liag murder accused 'a bit manic' when she told friend she struck deceased man
    accused, Alan Vial, 39, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Alan Vial
  42. 28 Jan2025
    Bloodstained rock found at the top of Ireland’s tallest cliffs matched pensioner’s DNA, court told
    accused, Alan Vial, 39, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Alan Vial
  43. 28 Jan2025
    Rock found on Sliabh Liag with hairs and bloodstains matching murdered pensioner
    accused, Alan Vial, 39, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Alan Vial
  44. 27 Jan2025
    Sliabh Liag murder trial: Pensioner had head injuries consistent with blunt weapon, pathologist says
    accused, Alan Vial, 39, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Alan Vial
  45. 23 Jan2025
    Sliabh Liag murder jury see CCTV montage of alleged killers' movements
    accused, Alan Vial, 39, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Alan Vial
  46. 23 Jan2025
    Donegal cliffs murder trial: Jury shown CCTV montage of alleged movements of accused
    accused, Alan Vial, 39, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Alan Vial
  47. 22 Jan2025
    Man allegedly thrown off Ireland’s highest cliffs had earlier altercation with murder accused, court hears
    accused, Alan Vial, 39, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Alan Vial
  48. 22 Jan2025
    Man had altercation with Sliabh Liag murder accused before being thrown off cliff
    accused, Alan Vial, 39, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Alan Vial
  49. 22 Jan2025
    Murder accused had altercation with deceased man days before he was thrown from cliffs, court told
    accused, Alan Vial, 39, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Alan Vial
  50. 21 Jan2025
    Woman accused of murder at cliffs said she 'battered' deceased man's face with a rock, court told
    accused, Alan Vial, 39, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Alan Vial
  51. 21 Jan2025
    Sliabh Liag murder accused said she 'battered' deceased man's face and liked it
    accused, Alan Vial, 39, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Alan Vial
  52. 21 Jan2025
    Donegal cliffs murder case: Accused told friend she ‘liked’ battering man with rock
    suspect, Alan Vial, 39, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Alan Vial
  53. 21 Jan2025
    Donegal murder trial hears woman told friend she 'battered' man and liked it
    accused, Alan Vial, 39, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Alan Vial
  54. 17 Jan2025
    Donegal cliffs murder case: Each of the accused claimed the other ‘did it’, court told
    accused, Alan Vial, 39, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Alan Vial
  55. 17 Jan2025
    Two accused of murdering man in Donegal each claimed the other 'did it'
    accused, Alan Vial, 39, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Alan Vial
  56. 17 Jan2025
    Sliabh League murder accused each claimed the other 'did it'
    accused, Alan Vial, 39, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Alan Vial
  57. 16 Jan2025
    Man and woman plead not guilty to murder of man in Donegal
    accused, Alan Vial, 39, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Alan Vial
  58. 16 Jan2025
    Sliabh Liag murder accused plead not guilty
    accused, Alan Vial, 39, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Alan Vial
  59. 19 Jun2024
    Donegal murder accused handed another driving ban
    convicted, Alan Vial, 38, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Alan Vial
  60. 29 May2024
    Drug-driving charge lands Sliabh Liag murder accused six-year ban
    convicted, Alan Vial, 38, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Alan Vial
  61. 18 Dec2023
    Over 200 witnesses involved in Sliabh Liag murder case
    accused, Alan Vial, 38, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Alan Vial
  62. 20 Nov2023
    Two sent for trial charged with murdering Robert Wilkin (60s) in Co Donegal
    accused, Alan Vial, 38, namedAlan Vial
  63. 20 Nov2023
    Man and woman to stand trial for Donegal cliffs murder
    accused, Alan Vial, 38, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Alan Vial
  64. 20 Nov2023
    Duo sent forward for trial at Central Criminal Court charged with Sliabh Liag murder
    accused, Alan Vial, 38, male, namedAlan Vial
  65. 6 Nov2023
    State given two weeks for book of evidence in Sliabh Liag murder case
    accused, Alan Vial, male, namedAlan Vial
  66. 23 Oct2023
    Sliabh Liag murder accused to face Central Criminal Court trial
    accused, Alan Vial, 38, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Alan Vial
  67. 2 Oct2023
    Detectives investigating Sliabh Liag murder have taken ‘over 200 statements’
    accused, Alan Vial, 38, male, namedAlan Vial
  68. 2 Oct2023
    Over 200 statements and exhibits in Sliabh Liag murder probe
    accused, Alan Vial, 38, namedAlan Vial
  69. 18 Sep2023
    Solicitor asks State to prioritise case of man charged with Sliabh Liag murder
    accused, Alan Vial, 38, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Alan Vial
  70. 4 Sep2023
    Books of evidence for Sliabh Liag murder accused 'at advanced stage'
    accused, Alan Vial, 38, namedAlan Vial
  71. 4 Sep2023
    Book of evidence on Sliabh Liag murder charge ‘at advanced stage’
    accused, Alan Vial, 38, male, namedAlan Vial
  72. 29 Aug2023
    Woman charged with murder of man found in water in Donegal
    accused, Alan Vial, 38, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Alan Vial
  73. 29 Aug2023
    Woman in court on Sliabh Liag murder charge
    accused, Alan Vial, 38, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Alan Vial
  74. 29 Aug2023
    Woman (21) charged with murder of man whose body was found off Sliabh Liag cliffs
    accused, Alan Vial, 38, male, namedAlan Vial
  75. 29 Aug2023
    Woman charged in relation to fatal assault at Sliabh Liag to face court today
    accused, Alan Vial, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Alan Vial
  76. 28 Aug2023
    Woman arrested in connection with death of man whose body was found off cliffs
    accused, Alan Vial, 38, male, named at arrest, non-irish (judged from name)Alan Vial
  77. 28 Aug2023
    Woman arrested over death of man at Sliabh Liag
    accused, Alan Vial, 38, male, named at arrest, non-irish (judged from name)Alan Vial
  78. 10 Aug2023
    Man charged with Donegal murder remanded in custody
    accused, Alan Vial, 38, male, namedAlan Vial
  79. 10 Aug2023
    Further remand for Sliabh Liag murder accused
    accused, Alan Vial, 38, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Alan Vial
  80. 17 Jul2023
    Man remanded in custody over murder charge related to body found off Donegal cliffs
    accused, Alan Vial, 38, male, namedAlan Vial
  81. 17 Jul2023
    Murder accused remanded in custody
    accused, Alan Vial, 38, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Alan Vial
  82. 14 Jul2023
    Man (38) charged with murder of man whose body was found off Sliabh Liag cliffs in Donegal
    suspect, Alan Vial, 38, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Alan Vial
  83. 14 Jul2023
    Man charged with murder over Sliabh Liag death
    suspect, Alan Vial, 38, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Alan Vial
  84. 14 Jul2023
    Man charged over murder of man found floating in water off Donegal cliffs
    accused, Alan Vial, 38, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Alan Vial
  85. 14 Jul2023
    Man (38) charged with murder after body found near Sliabh Liag in Co Donegal
    accused, Alan Vial, 38, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Alan Vial

Matched on the name as printed, ignoring quoted nicknames, and split by the ages reported. Two people who share a name and age would appear together here.