Son and daughter of publican Charlie Chawke jailed for 'vicious' assault on men
David Raleigh
A son and daughter of prominent publican Charlie Chawke were jailed for two and a half years between them after they pleaded guilty to a 'vicious' assault on two men three years ago.
Bill Chawke, (31), and Alison Chawke (41), attacked the two innocent men without provocation at the four-star Dunraven Arms Hotel, on November 9th 2023.
The two defendants have brought “embarrassment” on their family, whose well-known national pub chain was built up by their father Charlie Chawke, their barristers told the court.
The two Chawke siblings were alcohol intoxicated when they lashed out at two men. Their only defence was that they claimed the two men had stared and smirked at them.
Bill and Alison Chawke set upon the two victims, Gerard Cox and John McHugh, both 50s, punching and kicking them, and at one point during the attack, they gouged the men's eyes.
Bill Chawke initiated the attack, lunging at Mr Cox, while Alison Chawke threw a glass pint at the men.
Ms Chawke bit John McHugh on his face and kicked him in the head as Mr Chawke wrestled with him on the floor of the foyer of the Dunraven.
On Tuesday at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Fiona O’Sullivan sentenced Bill Chawke to two years and six months with the final 12 months suspended, after taking into consideration Mr Chawke’s guilty plea and prior good character.
The judge sentenced Alison Chawke to two years and two months, with the final 14 months of the sentence suspended after taking into consideration her guilty plea and previous good character.
In court, the two Chawke siblings clasped their hands and appeared stunned when the sentences were delivered.
They both entered bail bonds of €1,000, pledging to keep the peace and not commit any further criminal offences during the suspended part of their sentences.
Alison Chawke mimed to a supporter in court, “Am I going to jail”.
Judge O’Sullivan said the attack was “unprovoked” and “had an element of ferocity”.
The judge said Mr Cox and Mr McHugh had been entitled to enjoy a night out without interference, and they were now living with long-term effects of the attack.
Bill Chawke looked straight ahead as the sentence was read out. Alison Chawke dabbed her eyes and looked shocked after the judgement was read out.
Judge O’Sullivan said Mr Chawke had been “more culpable as the main instigator”.
They had first appeared before Newcastle West District Court on October 1st, 2024, where Garda Ronan Hayes of Adare Garda Station gave evidence that neither of the two accused made any reply when charged.
Alison Chawke, of The Beeches, Holywell, Goatstown, Dublin 14, pleaded guilty on a full-facts basis to assaulting John McHugh (50s), causing him harm.
Bill Chawke, of Merrion Street Upper, Dublin 2, admitted on a full facts basis to assaulting Mr McHugh’s friend, Gerard Cox, causing him harm.
As their trial date loomed, the two Chawke siblings pleaded guilty before Limerick Circuit Criminal Court.
The court heard the brother and sister consumed around 15 vodkas, gin and tonics and Guinness, in Adare village, prior to going to the residents bar at the Dunraven, and without provocation, attacked the two men.
Moments before the attack, Bill Chawke had demanded food, but when staff told him bar food was no longer available, as it was after midnight, he persisted.
Gerard Cox politely asked Bill Chawke to stop annoying the staff, but Mr Chawke approached Mr Cox and exchanged words with him.
Alison Chawke started taking pictures on her mobile phone of Mr Cox and his friend John McHugh, who had been minding their own business.
Again, without provocation, Bill Chawke approached the men at the bar and lunged at them, hitting them with his fists.
CCTV footage
The Dunraven’s internal CCTV cameras captured the entire attack.
The CCTV recordings were played in court, showing the brawl spreading from the residents' bar out to the hotel’s front reception area.
At one point in the front foyer of the hotel, Alison Chawke knelt down beside Mr McHugh and “locked onto” his face with her teeth.
Ms Chawke bit Mr McHugh on his left cheek, said prosecuting barrister Lily Buckley, instructed by Brendan Gill, State Solicitor for Co Limerick.
Ms Chawke also kicked Mr McHugh into the side of his head. She later admitted to gardaí that she was not justified in her awful behaviour on the night.
When gardaí arrived at the scene, they took Mr Chawke's name and address and he left the area.
However, Ms Chawke initially refused to give her details and was held overnight in a Garda cell. She later slept in her car before returning home to Dublin, the court heard.
Gerard Cox told gardaí he felt his eyes being gouged during the attack, but he said he had not provoked the “vicious response”.
The court heard Mr Cox suffered a swollen eyelid, bruising, a black eye, pain in his cheekbone and mental trauma.
As well as the bite to his cheek, Mr McHugh suffered scrapes to his face, forehead and ear, as well as soft tissue damage to his neck and shoulders.
Both victims suffered mental anguish and trauma from the attack and are still recovering from their physical and psychological injuries.
Ms Chawke told gardaí she had not wanted to give her name to them because she was concerned her father would find out about her drunken behaviour on the night.
Hugh Harnett and Mark Nicholas, senior counsels for Bill Chawke and Alison Chawke, respectively, had asked the court not to jail the two siblings and instead impose a structured suspended sentence.
In mitigation, the two barristers had argued that the court had to take into account the two defendants' guilty pleas and that they were of good previous character.
Hartnett said the defendant's behaviour on the night had brought “embarrassment” on the Chawke family name.
Nicholas agreed and said the attack had left a “stain” on Adare Village, where the Chawke family own a number of pubs.
Nicholas said there had been “significant” publicity for both defendants, but he acknowledged, on behalf of his client, Ms Chawke, “you make your bed, and you must lie in it”.
