Crime & Law

Sliabh Liag death: Man held in connection with body found in Co Donegal

Body of man (60s) was found off cliffs in early July following an extensive search

Gardaí and the Irish Coast Guard carrying out a search of Sliabh Liag for a reported missing person, whose body was later recovered, on June 27th. Photograph: Joe Dunne

Stephen Maguire
Thu Jul 13 2023 - 11:08

A man has been rearrested in connection with the discovery of a body off cliffs at Sliabh Liag in Co Donegal on July 4th.

The body of the man in his 60s was found following an extensive search of the area for a number of previous days.

GardaÍ rearrested a man at a Letterkenny address early on Thursday morning in as part of an ongoing investigation into an alleged assault in the Sliabh Liag/Killybegs area of Donegal, between Saturday, June 24th and Sunday, June 25th. The man, in his 30s, was taken to Ballyshannon Garda Station for questioning.

The suspect is understood to be one of two people who were previously arrested, but released without charge, in connection with the alleged incident. He is being held under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984.

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The victim is believed to be Robert Wilkin, aged in his mid-60s and from Northern Ireland, who had been reported missing.

The identification of the remains taken from the sea became protracted because Mr Wilkin led a transient lifestyle and had very few living relatives.

Gardaí believe he was assaulted and died during an attack before his remains were dumped in the sea off the Sliabh Liag cliffs.

Britain’s National Crime Agency (NCA) had been assisting the Garda in investigating the incident.

It is understood that Mr Wilkin’s remains were released from Letterkenny University Hospital to his family on Wednesday.

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