Latest news with #NikitaBurns
The Irish Sun
29-04-2025
- The Irish Sun
Woman, 23, jailed for life over gruesome Sliabh Liag murder gets more time for trying to gouge female Garda's eyes
A WOMAN who was jailed for life after a man was murdered and his body thrown over cliffs in Co Donegal has been jailed for four months for attacking Gardai. Nikita Burns appeared at Letterkenny District Burns, 23, attacked the officers after staff at Letterkenny University Hospital called for help while she was being treated at the medical unit at 1.10am on January 4th, 2023. The court was told that Burns was placed in a patrol car at the hospital following an incident. However, she then tried to gauge the eyes of a female Garda before pulling her hair and then also attacked a male officer by kicking him in the shins. She later admitted the offences. READ MORE IRISH NEWS The offences happened before Burns took part in the The victim's body was Burns and her co-accused, Alan Vial, 39, were both The trial heard gruesome evidence of how the victim had been MOST READ ON THE IRISH SUN The pair had both blamed eachother for carrying out the murder but the jury agreed with the prosecution that this was a joint enterprise and found both guilty of murder. Both were given life sentences. Ms Burns' solicitor, Mr Rory O'Brien, said Burns was 'suffering significant mental health deterioration' and had issues ongoing in her life. He had previously explained how Burns had a very difficult life and had been placed in care at an early age. Judge Éiteáin Cunningham jailed Burns for four months on each of the two summonses. The sentences are to run concurrently and will also run concurrent to the sentence she is currently serving. 1 Nikita Burns admitted assaulting two Gardai during a vicious late-night attack Credit: Collect Image
Sunday World
29-04-2025
- Sunday World
Sliabh Liag murderer Nikita Burns gets more jailtime for vicious attack on Gardai
Nikita Burns (23) attacked the officers after staff at Letterkenny University Hospital called for help A woman who was jailed for life after a man was murdered and his body thrown over cliffs in Co Donegal has been jailed for four months for attacking Gardai. Nikita Burns appeared at Letterkenny District Court where she admitted assaulting two Gardai during a vicious late-night attack. Burns, 23, attacked the officers after staff at Letterkenny University Hospital called for help while Burns was being treated at the medical unit at 1.10am on January 4th, 2023. The court was told that Burns was placed in a patrol car at the hospital following an incident. However, she then tried to gauge the eyes of a female Garda before pulling her hair and then also attacked a male officer by kicking him in the shins. She later admitted the offences. The offences happened before Burns took part in the murder of Robert 'Robin' Wilkin five months later in June, 2023. The body of Robert Wilkin was found at Sliabh Liag The victim's body was thrown over cliffs at Sliabh Liag in south Donegal with his body being recovered from the water several days later. Burns and her co-accused, Alan Vial, 39, were both sentenced to life for the gruesome murder of Mr Wilkin in March. Both had pleaded not guilty before Mr Justice Paul McDermott but were found guilty after a trial lasting a number of weeks. The trial heard gruesome evidence of how the victim had been bashed with a rock at Roshin near Killybegs before he was driven to Sliabh Liag and dumped over cliffs there. The pair had both blamed eachother for carrying out the murder but the jury agreed with the prosecution that this was a joint enterprise and found both guilty of murder. Both were given life sentences. Alan Vial and Nikita Burns have both been found guilty of murdering 66-year-old Robert 'Robin' Wilkin Ms Burns' solicitor, Mr Rory O'Brien, said that at the time of the attack on Gardai in January, 2023, his client had no previous convictions. He said Ms Burns had engaged fully with the Probation Services and a report had been handed into court. Mr O'Brien said Burns was 'suffering significant mental health deterioration' and had issues ongoing in her life. He had previously explained how Burns had a very difficult life and had been placed in care at an early age. She began experimenting with drugs and led to more difficulty and found herself homeless leading a very transient life, he added. 'She has no recollection of this incident,' he said in relation to the assault on the gardai. He said custody has not been easy on Burns and there have 'been very low moments', but her incarceration has allowed her to 'reflect on her life and her actions'. Judge Éiteáin Cunningham reviewed her notes on the case and taking into account the mitigation and circumstances arising, she jailed Burns for four months on each of the two summonses. The sentences are to run concurrently and will also run concurrent to the sentence she is currently serving.
BBC News
06-03-2025
- BBC News
Slieve League: Man and woman found guilty of murdering Robert Wilkin
A man and woman have been found guilty of murdering a 66-year-old man who was "alive or dead" when he was thrown over cliffs along Ireland's Wild Atlantic Vial, 39, of Drumanoo Head, Killybegs, County Donegal, and Nikita Burns, 23, from An Charraig, County Donegal, both denied the murder of Robert Wilkin, who was also known as Robin, on 25 June body of the County Tyrone man was found eight days later in the sea at the foot of Slieve League cliffs in County Donegal in the Republic of body was found following a search involving gardaí (Irish police), the Donegal Mountain Rescue Team and the Irish Coastguard. This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly. Please refresh the page for the fullest can receive Breaking News on a smartphone or tablet via the BBC News App. You can also follow @BBCBreaking on X to get the latest alerts.
