Publican Charlie Chawke's son and daughter bailed on assault charges
Alison Chawke leaving Newcastle West court on Tuesday. She is accused of gouging the eyes of one of the alleged victims, and kicking another in the head a number of times before biting him on the side of his face at the hotel on November 9, 2023. Photo: Liam Burke/Press 22
A daughter and son of prominent publican Charlie Chawke were remanded on bail on Tuesday charged with violently assaulting two men at the four-star Dunraven Arms Hotel in Adare, Co Limerick.
Alison Chawke (40) of The Beeches, Holywell, Goatstown, Dublin 14, is accused of gouging the eyes of one of the alleged victims, and kicking another in the head a number of times before biting him on the side of his face at the hotel on November 9, 2023.
It is also claimed Ms Chawke threw a pint glass at the men and a number of other patrons who had been trying to intervene.
Bill Chawke, 30, of Merrion Street Upper, Dublin 2, was charged with two counts of assault causing harm, in which he allegedly threw punches at both men, and hit the head of one of the men off a bar counter.
On Tuesday afternoon, Garda Ronan Hayes of Adare Garda Station gave evidence before Newcastle West Court of arresting and charging both accused, who are each being represented by solicitor Michael Finucane. Garda Hayes told the court that neither accused made any reply when charged.
Inspector Barry Manton told the court that the Director of Public Prosecutions had directed that they be dealt with by summary disposal, which means the district court judge hears a summary of the alleged facts before deciding if they will allow the case to proceed in the district court.
Outlining the prosecution’s case, Inspector Manton alleged that, at around 12.30am on the date in question, Alison and Bill Chawke were sitting in the hotel bar.
Initially, the two accused were involved in a verbal altercation with bar staff as well as the two alleged victims, before they “put themselves in the personal space” of the staff and the two men “and it is alleged the (two) accused began a violent altercation”, Inspector Manton said.
A number of other customers at the bar “tried to break it up”, however the altercation continued out of the bar and ended in a hallway at the hotel, according to Inspector Manton.
“It was all captured on CCTV,” he said.
Inspector Manton told judge Carol Anne Coolican: “It will be alleged that Bill Chawke, during this violent altercation, gouged the eyes of ‘injured party number one’ and hit the head of ‘injured party number one’, pushing it down on the bar in a forceful manner”.
The Garda Inspector said it is also alleged that Mr Chawke “threw a number of punches against both injured parties”.
Insp. Manton alleged that “Alison Chawke gouged the eyes of ‘injured party number one’, went behind the bar and picked up a glass and threw it at persons involved, including other patrons that were trying to break it up”.
“Alison Chawke then made her way to a hallway and delivered a number of kicks to the head of ‘injured party number two’, and she bent down and bit him on the cheek,” alleged Insp. Manton.
After viewing all available footage, the judge said: “I’m refusing jurisdiction and so the matter will go back before the DPP.”
He granted an application for an eight-week adjournment to allow the State prepare a Book of Evidence and she said the accused “are entitled to their presumption of innocence”.
The judge remanded the two on bail, on their own bonds of €100 to appear before Newcastle West District Court for service of a Book of Evidence on December 3 this year.
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