Daughter and son of prominent publican Charlie Chawke charged with assault at Co Limerick hotel

A daughter and son of prominent publican Charlie Chawke were today remanded on bail charged with violently assaulting two men at the four-star luxury Dunraven Arms Hotel, in Adare, Co Limerick.

Alison Chawke (40) of The Beeches, Holywell, Goatstown, Dublin 14, allegedly gouged the eyes of one of the alleged victims, and allegedly kicked the other alleged victim in the head a number of times before allegedly biting him on the side of his face, at the hotel, on November 9th 2023.

Ms Chawke is also alleged to have thrown a pint glass at the alleged victims and a number of other patrons who had been trying to intervene in the alleged attack.

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 alleged injured parties, and hit the head of one of the men off a bar counter at the hotel, which has hosted members of the British Royal family, presidents and movie stars.

This afternoon, Garda Ronan Hayes, of Adare Garda Station, gave evidence before Newcastle West Court of arresting and charging both of the accused, who are each being represented by Dublin-based solicitor Michael Finucane.

Garda Hayes told the court that neither of the two accused made any reply when charged.

Inspector Barry Manton told the court that the Director of Public Prosecutions had directed that the two accused be dealt with by summary disposal, which means the district court judge hears a summary of the alleged facts from the prosecuting garda before deciding if they will allow the case to proceed in the district court or before a higher court.

Outlining the prosecution’s case, Inspector Manton alleged that, at around thirty minutes past midnight on the date in question, Alison and Bill Chawke were sitting at a bar at a hotel in Adare, as were the two alleged victims, and other hotel patrons.

Initially, the two accused were involved in a verbal altercation with bar staff as well as the two alleged victims, before Ms Chawke and Mr Chawke “put themselves in the personal space” of the staff and the two alleged victims “and it is alleged the (two) accused began a violent altercation”, Inspector Manton alleged.

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, Inspector Manton alleged.

“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 1’, pushing it down on the bar in a forceful manner”.

The Garda Inspector said it is also be alleged that Mr Chawke “threw a number of punches against both injured parties”.

Inspector Manton further 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 of the alleged incident, the judge said: “I’m refusing jurisdiction and so the matter will go back before the DPP.”

Judge Coolican granted an application by Inspector Manton for an eight-week adjournment to allow the State prepare a Book of Evidence, and she said the two accused “are entitled to their presumption of innocence”.

The judge remanded the two accused on bail, on their own bonds of €100, which did not have to be lodged, to appear before Newcastle West District Court for service of a Book of Evidence on December 3rd this year.