Alan Vial (41) and Nikita Burns (25) have lost their appeal against their convictions for the murder of Robert 'Bob' Wilkin. The Court of Appeal dismissed their challenge on July 24, 2026, upholding the original verdict from their trial at the Central Criminal Court.
The pair were convicted in 2024 of beating Mr. Wilkin to death and then throwing his body off the Sliabh Liag cliffs in County Donegal, one of Ireland's highest sea cliffs. The victim's body was discovered at the base of the cliffs in July 2022.
During the appeal, lawyers for Vial and Burns argued that the trial judge had erred in his instructions to the jury and that the evidence was insufficient. However, the three-judge appeal panel found no basis to overturn the convictions, stating the trial was fair and the verdict safe.
Vial and Burns are serving life sentences for the murder. The family of Mr. Wilkin, who was in his 40s, welcomed the appeal court's decision, saying they could now begin to move on.
