Unarmed gardaí capture gunmen in chase after pub owner shot

TWO uniformed gardaí have been hailed as heroes after tackling armed raiders who shot a well-known Dublin publican in a failed robbery yesterday.

Justice Minister Michael McDowell last night praised the bravery of the two unnamed officers who risked their lives in successfully apprehending two gunmen despite coming under fire themselves.

The gardaí arrested two known criminals in their 50s following a high-speed car chase through several suburbs of south Dublin at lunchtime.

The incident began when Charlie Chawke, the well-known owner of the popular sports pub, the Goat Grill in Goatstown, was confronted outside his premises on the Lower Kilmacud Road at 12.40pm.

The armed robbers, one of them wearing a balaclava, demanded the publican hand over a large bag of cash as he was about to step into his silver Mercedes.

It is estimated Mr Chawke had around €50,000 in cash from the weekend’s takings, which he intended to lodge in a nearby bank. Although Mr Chawke told the gunmen to take the money, one of the raiders shot the publican in the leg. The robbers then grabbed the cash before fleeing in a red Volkswagen Polo car.

A garda patrol car from Dundrum, however, was passing the busy crossroads outside the Goat Grill at the time of the incident and immediately gave chase. The raiders were eventually forced to abandon their car a short distance away when they drove into a cul-de-sac at Stillorgan.

Although the two unarmed gardaí were fired on as they gave chase on foot, they still managed to arrest the two men as they tried to escape across the playing area of an estate. A stray bullet missed the officers and hit a stationary car parked outside a house without causing any injury.

Both robbers were taken to Blackrock garda station where they are being held under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act. They are due to appear before Dublin District Court later today.

Two firearms and the contents of the bag stolen from the Goat Grill were recovered. Mr Chawke was brought to St Vincent’s Hospital where his condition last night was described as “comfortable”.

A friend of the businessman, Oliver McDonnell, who was standing next to Mr Chawke at the time of the incident said he was lucky to be alive. “We feared the worst but thankfully he’s now in a stable condition,” he said.

Last night, Minister for Justice congratulated the two gardaí for their bravery. “Here again we have another example of the courage and dedication to duty by members of our police force of which we can be proud and grateful.”