Armed robbery case sentencing adjourned

The sentencing of a man convicted of shooting publican Charlie Chawke during an armed robbery has been adjourned until next week to allow a medical report on the defendant to be produced.

Larry Cummins (aged 54), of Mellows Road, Finglas, was found guilty by a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court jury of intentionally causing serious harm to Mr Chawke, the robbery of €48,652 in cash and cheques, possession of a shotgun with the intention to commit robbery and two counts of possession of a shotgun with the intention of resisting arrest at The Goat Grill, Goatstown and Stillorgan Heath on October 6, 2003.

Judge Frank O’Donnell heard evidence that Mr Chawke got into his car outside his pub around lunch time with a bag containing cash and cheques. A man holding a shotgun approached his car, opened the door and demanded the bag.

Mr Chawke grabbed for the gun but missed and the raider took aim and fired a shot into his right knee. His leg was later amputated.

The prosecution case was that this man was not Cummins but his accomplice in the joint enterprise.

A garda patrol car had stopped at lights outside the pub at the time of the shooting. Gardaí ran to the scene and struggled with the man but backed off as Larry Cummins pointed a shot gun at them.

The raider sped off in a vehicle which was chased by gardaí through housing estates and into a cul de sac at Stillorgan Heath where both men pointed their weapons at the patrol car and Cummin’s accomplice fired a shot at the windscreen.

The raiders were pursued down a laneway and arrested when found hiding in bushes.