Brother of man convicted in Sliabh Liag murder fined over taxi breach

The brother of a man convicted of a murder in Donegal has been fined in court for a breach of the Taxi Regulations Acts.

Derek Vial was before Donegal District Court over an incident in Donegal Town on August 7, 2025.

Vial, of The Waterfront, Glebe, Killybegs, faced a charge that, at The Diamond, Donegal Town, he drove a mechanically propelled vehicle for the carriage of persons for reward, such a vehicle not being a small public service vehicle licensed under the licensing regulations.

The matter is contrary to section 22 (2) (a) (i) of the Taxi Regulations Acts 2013 & 2016 and that he did thereby commit an offence under section 22 (4) of the Taxi Regulations Acts 2013 & 2016.

Vial, who represented himself in court, pleaded guilty and told Judge Éiteáin Cunningham that the incident was “just an oversight”.

Vial told the court that he had “a lot of family issues at the time” and added: “My brother was in the Central Criminal Court for a murder case so my mind was on more pressing matters, which I was obliged to deal with.”

Last March, Alan Vial (39) of Drumanoo Head, Killybegs and co-accused Nikita Burns (23), of Carrick, were convicted of murdering Robert ‘Robin’ Wilkin before his body was thrown over the Sliabh Liag cliffs.

Vial and Burns have appealed their convictions and that matter will be heard in July before the Court of Appeal.

A National Transport Authority (NTA) inspector told the court that he observed a Skoda vehicle with a passenger in the rear driving around The Diamond. He approached Vial, who was known to him, and the driver made full admissions.

Vial is licensed to drive a public service vehicle, but the licence on this vehicle had expired on July 15, 2025 and the detection was made on August 7, 2025.

“Once a vehicle is over 10 years old, it has to be regulated every six months,” Vial said. “You need to get all the ducks in a row, including tax clearance. As I went to clear it, two or three weeks before, I had to renew the tax clearance and wasn’t able to attend the appointment in the time.”

Vial said he has been in the taxi business for 23 years and had four or five taxis on the road at one stage. 

He said he was initially a tour guide and got into the taxi business from that.

Vial told the court that he recently obtained a Masters-level qualification, relating to maritime operations, in Cork and his tour guide work would not kick off.

The NTA was represented in court by solicitor Mr Jason Teahan.

Judge Cunningham fined Vial €150 and awarded costs to the NTA of €400. 

“That is as fair as I can be,” said Judge Cunningham, allowing the defendant four months to pay.