Two Donegal people are to go on trial at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin today charged with murder after the body of a man was found off Sliabh Liag cliffs in 2023.
Alan Vial (39) of Drumanoo Head, Killybegs, and Nikita Burns (22) of Bundoran Westend Accommodation, Westend Magheracar, Bundoran, have been charged with murdering Robert Wilkin.
The trial is expected to last up to four weeks.
Vial and Burns are charged that on June 25, 2023, at a place unknown within the State, they did murder one Robert Wilkin (also known as Robin Wilkin).
The body of Mr Wilkin, aged in his 60s and originally from County Tyrone, was found floating in waters off Sliabh Liag on July 3 of that year.
Vial and Burns were initially arrested on June 26, 2023, on suspicion of a serious assault. It followed information received by Gardai which led to a large-scale search around the popular tourist destination.
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. Burns was subsequently brought before Letterkenny District Court on August 29 when she was also charged with murder.
Following an extensive search involving Gardai, the Irish Coast Guard, including the Rescue 118 helicopter and the Donegal Mountain Rescue Team, a body was recovered in water off the cliffs on July 3.
The body was taken to Letterkenny University Hospital where a full post mortem was carried out by the State Pathologist’s Office.
The findings of that post mortem have not been released for Garda operational reasons.