The family of a man who was thrown over iconic Irish cliffs have described his murder as “evil”.

Alan Vile and Nikita Burns, were convicted of murder by majorities of 10 to two at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin on Thursday.

The pair were sentenced to life imprisonment on Friday.

Vial, 39, of Drumanoo Head, Killybegs, County Donegal and Burns, 23, from An Charraig, County Donegal, both denied the murder.

Mr Wilkin’s body was found in the sea at the bottom of the Slieve League Cliffs along Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way eight days after he was murdered by two short-term friends.

During the sentencing hearing, a statement on behalf of Robin Wilkin’s family described the time since his murder as “an agonising journey filled with grief, denial and undoubtedly anger”.

The statement, read to the court by Mr Wilkin’s sister, Irene McAleer, on behalf of herself and her brother David and sister Marie, stated that “the brutal nature of his death is something that none of us will ever come to terms with”.