Donegal cliff murder: How Alan Vial and Nikita Burns were convicted of killing Robert Wilkin

Alan Vial (39) and Nikita Burns (23) have been found guilty of murdering 66-year-old ‘Robin’ Wilkin whose body was thrown over the cliffs at Sliabh Liag in Co Donegal almost three years ago.

The trial lasted two-months. It was, the court heard, a grisly murder carried out by two people living a chaotic, alcohol fuelled life.

It was eight days after the murder that Wilkin’s body was found, a delay that caused significant challenges in establishing a cause of death.

The jury agreed that on June 25th, 2023 the pair had attacked their housemate, Wilkin, as the trio were on yet another of their drinking sprees. They dumped his body over the cliffs at Sliabh Liag, which ranks among Europe’s tallest sea cliffs.

The couple were caught 24 hours later when their car went into a ditch. Gardaí noted blood spatter and cleaning products in the car and the foundation of the case was a confession Burns made to her friends, which they recorded and then reported to the Garda.

In court, Vial attempted to blame Burns much to the troubled woman’s obvious distress.

Court reporter Eoin Reynolds explains how the case unfolded.

Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan

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