Sliabh Liag killers denied legal aid for third barrister over concern for 'the public purse'
A judge has denied legal aid for a third senior barrister to represent each of the Sliabh Liag murderers Alan Vial and Nikita Burns in their bid to overturn their convictions, noting he had to have 'some regard to the public purse'.
Vial and Burns, a former couple, were convicted by a Central Criminal Court jury last March of murdering Robert 'Robin' Wilkin, whose body was thrown over the cliffs in Co Donegal almost three years ago.
Advertisement
Vial (39), from Drumanoo Head, Killybegs, and Burns (23), of Carrick, Co Donegal, had pleaded not guilty to murdering Mr Wilkin in Co Donegal on June 25th, 2023.
The trial heard the 66-year-old suffered at least two depressed fractures to his head before being put over Sliabh Liag, which ranks among Europe's tallest sea cliffs.
Vial's application for legal aid was one of eight before the Court of Appeal on Friday. Mr Justice John Edwards said he had considered matters in chambers and in Vial's case approved legal aid for two counsel.
Defence barrister James P O'Brien told the court Vial had been represented by three counsel in the trial. He said the trial had been long and involved a significant amount of disclosure and asked that three counsel also be allocated for his client's appeal.
Advertisement
Mr Justice Edwards said his briefing note had been for two counsel. He questioned whether three counsel were needed, going on to say he could not recall any case in the Court of Appeal where a party had been represented by more than two barristers.
Joseph Mulrean BL, representing Burns, said he had a similar application to make for three counsel. Burns case was listed today for an application to extend the deadline for lodging her appeal against her conviction, which the court granted.
'What's so complex about this case that it requires three counsel as opposed to two?' Mr Justice Edwards asked.
'If there is some reason I'm open minded about it but simply to maintain parity with the court below is not a good reason,' said the judge, going on to note: 'I do have to have some regard to the public purse'.
Advertisement
He said the appeal hearing would be shorter than a trial and did not involve live witnesses or live exhibits. He noted transcripts are provided, legal submissions are prepared in advance, and the appeal is usually presented by one counsel.
Mr Mulrean said the case had involved a significant amount of documentary evidence and had been 'extremely exhibit heavy'.
Mr Justice Edwards asked if it was the State's intention to have three counsel for the appeal and Emmet Nolan BL, for the Director of Prosecutions, confirmed it was not. The judge then told the defence lawyers he would only certify for two counsel.
The Irish Coast Guard recovered Mr Wilkin's body from the sea eight days after he was thrown from the cliffs. Due to predator damage and decomposition, State Pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster was unable to identify a cause of death.
Advertisement
She noted multiple fractures to Mr Wilkin's face but could not say which had been caused by the fall from the cliff and which related to a prior assault.
Ireland
Man who drove with Lidl manager on car bonnet afte...
Read More
However, the jury heard the two fractures to the back of his head were not consistent with a fall down a cliff, but were 'entirely consistent' with injuries that could have been caused by a bloody rock found by gardaí at the top of the cliffs.
DNA testing showed blood and hairs on the rock were Mr Wilkin's.
Each accused claimed the other used the rock to beat Mr Wilkin about the head before he was put over the cliffs.
However, the prosecution argued they were part of a joint enterprise to cause serious injury to Mr Wilkin and therefore both guilty of murder.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BreakingNews.ie
37 minutes ago
- BreakingNews.ie
‘Dark cloud' hangs over community after teenage boy dies off Meath coast
A 'dark cloud' hangs over a community in Co Meath after a teenage boy died off the coast of Laytown on Friday. Condolences have been offered to the family of the teenager for their 'devastating loss', local representatives said. Advertisement Emergency services launched a search operation after receiving a report of a male in difficulty in the water at Laytown at 6.15pm on Friday. The body of a male was removed from the water by the coastguard, gardaí said. He was pronounced dead at the scene and removed to Navan Hospital, where a postmortem is due to take place. Condolences have been shared with the boy's family in the wake of the tragedy. Advertisement Minister of State and Meath East TD Thomas Byrne said it was 'devastating to hear of the tragic death of a teenage boy' in Laytown. 'My heart goes out to his family, friends, all those who were around Laytown tonight, and all who are grieving,' he said on X. 'A summer moment has turned into an incalculable loss.' It is devastating to hear of the tragic death of a teenage boy in Laytown earlier this evening. My heart goes out to his family, friends, all those who were around Laytown tonight, and all who are grieving. A summer moment has turned into an incalculable loss. Thank you to… — Thomas Byrne (@ThomasByrneTD) June 20, 2025 Advertisement Independent councillor Carol Lennon said it was 'a devastating loss' for his family and friends. 'Thinking of those who were present, those who assisted with his recovery and those for whom this will trigger emotions of their own loss,' she said in a Facebook post. Ireland Watch: Howth coast guard carries out rescues after... Read More Councillor Sharon Tolan said 'a dark cloud' was hanging over the community on Friday night. 'My thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected by the tragic accident in Laytown,' she said on Facebook. Advertisement 'Please think long and hard before posting any commentary on any social media pages.'
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
'You money grabbing little dog' - 'Jealous' drug dealer's messages to his ex-girlfriend are heard in court as he is accused of brutal murder of 'love rival' who was 'tortured to death' in his own home
A 'jealous' drug dealer accused of masterminding the brutal torture and killing of his alleged love rival branded his ex-girlfriend a 'money-grabbing little dog', a court heard today. John Belfield, 31, allegedly plotted the murder of Thomas Campbell out of 'hostility' because the victim had begun dating his ex-partner, as well as to steal from him. The 38-year-old's bloodied body was found bound in extra-strength duct tape and dressed in only a pair of socks in his own home in July 2022. In the run-up to the killing, Belfield was given crucial details about the intended victim's movements by Campbell's ex-wife Coleen, a jury has heard. She was later found guilty of manslaughter and conspiracy to rob. Today Manchester Crown Court heard of threatening messages that Belfield sent to his ex-girlfriend Demi-Lee Driver, who had begun a relationship with Campbell. In one he wrote: 'You and that helmet will get domed. 'Shut your mouth you dog.' Another read: 'There's not a thing you or him will do so. I think you should get my draws out your house Monday.' Belfield added: 'And I'm going to shag his baby mum now for the point of it, you money grabbing little dog.' Ms Driver refused to give police access to her mobile phone but shared screenshots of the Instagram messages, jurors were told. Giving evidence in his defence today, Belfield admitted being a drug dealer but claimed he had been at his sister's home on the night of the killing. His barrister Richard Wright KC asked him: 'Do you understand that the prosecution allege that, together with his ex-wife Coleen Campbell, you had personal motivation to attack Thomas Campbell because he was in a relationship with your ex partner Demi-Lee Driver? 'You were annoyed or jealous of that relationship?' Belfield replied: 'I understand that.' Mr Wright asked: 'Did you conspire with Coleen Campbell and others to target Mr Campbell as a victim for robbery in his own home?' The 38-year-old, pictured with Coleen on holiday, was discovered by shocked neighbours 'No,' Belfield replied. Mr Wright asked: 'Were you motivated by jealousy or anger to attack Mr Campbell because he was in a relationship with Demi-Lee Driver?' Belfield anwered: 'No.' Belfield admitted that he had planned to to target Mr Campbell at some point in order to steal his drugs and admitted that he himself was a drug dealer. He denied being part of the team which placed a tracking device on Mr Campbell's VW van five days before the murder and said he did not know it had been put there. Belfield admitted he had taken part in alleged 'recces' of Mr Campbell's home in Mossley, Greater Manchester. But he denied that he had been one of the men who bought items used in the torture of Mr Campbell from a B&Q store in Oldham four days before the killing. Mr Wright asked him if he was with Reece Steven - who has been convicted of Mr Campbell's murder - when he was attacked and killed. He replied: 'No. I was at my sister's house with my niece and nephew.' Belfield admitted that he had taken part in efforts to disguise the van used in the attack but said he had done so 'to help my friends'. He also agreed that he had fled the country after the murder, travelling to the former Dutch colony of Suriname in South America. But he said: 'I was scared his friend were going to attack me and kill me because of the rumours they had heard.' The court has heard the 'horrific' killing was the result of 'very careful planning by a team of highly organised criminals' who used a tracking device placed on Mr Campbell's car and carried out reconnaissance on his home in the days before the assault. Jurors have been told that at a 2023 trial Reece Steven was convicted of murder and conspiracy to rob. Stephen Cleworth, from Heywood, who acted as a driver, was convicted of manslaughter and conspiracy to rob. He was responsible for planting the tracker on Mr Campbell's vehicle and assisting with surveillance although he was not present during the murder. Belfield - alleged to have been the 'driving force' behind the killing - is now standing trial for the murder after being extradited back from South America. The prosecution case is that Steven, Belfield and a third unknown man were all present when Mr Campbell was tortured to death. Belfield, of no fixed address, denies murder and conspiracy to rob. The trial continues.
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Nurse jailed for life for killing of five babies and attempted murder of eight others at hospital in Argentina
A nurse who murdered five babies and tried to kill eight others at a hospital in Argentina has been jailed for life. Brenda Cecilia Aguero injected her victims with potassium and insulin stolen from emergency medical carts where there was no inventory control. The healthy babies were found dead at the neonatal ward of the maternity and child hospital in Cordoba province, 370 miles northwest of Buenos Aires, between March and June 2022. Eight others survived due to swift medical intervention. Under Argentine law, Aguero will not be eligible for parole before serving 35 years. The babies, all born healthy, died under initially unexplained circumstances at the neonatal ward of the maternity and child hospital in Cordoba province, 370 miles (600 km) northwest of Buenos Aires. The Argentine trial also brought charges against 10 other defendants, including former provincial officials and health professionals for cover-up and dereliction of duty. Those charged included a former health minister and secretary of health of Cordoba province, as well as the former hospital director. Aguero, who was arrested in 2022, denied the charges, earlier telling the court 'they have no evidence' and accusing media of portraying her as a 'serial killer.' Judge Patricia Soria, who presided over the case, shed tears as she read a statement of thanks to jurors at the end of the trial. Aguero was promptly led from the courtroom in handcuffs and transferred to Bouwer Prison near Cordoba following the conclusion of the trial this wee. Earlier, prosecutors had argued that Aguero was motivated by career ambitions, according to local outlet Infobae. She was said to have harmed the babies to be the first to detect their symptoms, raise the alarm, and impress her superiors in hopes of being promoted from the obstetrics ward to the neonatal unit. But the spate of sudden deaths and disturbing symptoms among the babies raised suspicions. Of the 13 victims examined, many bore unexplained puncture marks in areas not typically used for injections. Several had potassium and or insulin levels in their blood incompatible with life, which experts said could only have resulted from external injection, according to Infobae.
