The family of Donegal murder victim Robert Wilkin has said that the lack of remorse from his killers has been “overwhelming”.
Alan Vial (39) of Drumanoo Head, Killybegs, and Nikita Burns (23) from An Charraig were sentenced to life imprisonment today for the murder of 66-year-old Robert Wilkin, also known as Robin, on 25 June, 2023.
The Tyrone man was thrown off Sliabh Liag cliffs and his body was found eight days later in the sea.
A statement from Mr Wilkin’s family said the sentencing of the pair is not the end as they come to terms with their loss.
Irene McAleer, sister of Mr Wilkin, spoke on behalf of herself, her brother David and sister Marie, and said “the brutal nature of his death is something that none of us will ever come to terms with”.
Ms McAleer said nothing could have prepared her for the “evil and harrowing details” given during the criminal trial.
“To sit in the same room with those two cold, calculating individuals has been so difficult,” she said.
“The fact neither of these individuals have shown a grain of remorse has been very overwhelming at times.”
Her family also paid tribute to the Garda (Irish police) investigation into the murder of their brother and thanked key witnesses “for their bravery in coming forward and appearing in court”.
Ms McAleer also added: “I’d like to take this opportunity to declare that contrary to reports that Robin was estranged from his family, he was in fact just travelling his own path and had lost regular contact with us, as many siblings do.
“Robin’s callous and unnecessary murder has deprived us all the chance to reconnect now that our own lives are slowing down,” she said.
The statement concluded: “As a family, this isn’t the end for us. Our grieving will begin now in whichever way we can navigate through it.”
