Pair charged with murder of Tyrone man to face trial

THE woman accused of murdering a Tyrone man whose body was found in the sea at Sliabh Liag in July of this year, appeared by video link from the Dóchas Centre at Mountjoy prison, at Letterkenny District Court on Tuesday, to be told she and her co-accused will be tried at the Central Criminal Court.

Nikita Burns (21) with an address in Bundoran and her co-accused Alan Vial (38) of Killybegs are charged with the murder of Robert Wilkin, also known as Robin Wilkin on June 25, 2023, at a place unknown within the State.

Sergeant Jim Collins told Letterkenny District Court that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has directed that the cases against Vial and Burns proceed by way of trial on indictment at the Central Criminal Court. The sergeant added that the books of evidence are not yet ready to be served on the accused pair.

Vial was represented by solicitor, Patsy Gallagher with Frank Murphy representing Burns.

Both were remanded in custody by Judge Éiteáin Cunningham until November 6. If books of evidence are ready by that date, the accused will be brought to the court to be served in person. Otherwise, they will appear again via video link. The case was adjourned until November 6.

The body of Mr Wilkin, aged in his 60s and originally from Co Tyrone, was found floating in waters off Sliabh Liag on July 3.

According to gardai, more than 200 statements have been taken in the case with detectives piecing together a complex jigsaw of evidence.

Detective Garda Ciaran O’Brien told a previous court sitting that there was a ‘huge’ volume of forensic analysis required in the matter.

Vial and Burns were initially arrested on June 26 on suspicion of a serious assault. It followed information received by Gardai which led to a large-scale search off the popular tourist destination at Sliabh Liag.

While both were released without charge on that occasion, Vial was then brought before Ballyshannon District Court on July 14 where he was charged with murder while Burns was brought before Letterkenny District Court on August 29 when she was also charged with murder.

Wilkin’s body was taken to Letterkenny University Hospital where a full post mortem was carried out by the State Pathologist’s Office. However, the findings of that post mortem have not been released for Garda operational reasons.