A DAUGHTER and son of prominent pub chain businessman Charlie Chawke had their sentencing adjourned this Friday (March 6) after they pleaded guilty to assaulting two men at the luxury four-star Dunraven Arms Hotel in Adare, County Limerick.
Alison Chawke (41), of The Beeches, Holywell, Goatstown, Dublin 14, and her brother Bill Chawke (31), Merrion Street Upper, Dublin 2, appeared before Limerick Circuit Criminal Court, where facts of the case were to be heard prior to sentence being imposed.
Last month, Alison Chawke pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to John McHugh on November 9, 2023. Bill Chawke pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to Gerard Cox on the same date.
Today’s pre-sentencing hearing was told that, due to other cases taking priority over the Chawkes’ case, it could not immediately be dealt with.
Judge Simon McAleese adjourned the matter for mention only to the general call-over of cases at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court on April 27 to fix a date for facts to be heard.
Previously, Newcastle West District Court heard that Alison Chawke allegedly gouged the eyes of one victim and kicked the other victim in the head a number of times before biting him on the side of his face.
The court in Newcastle West heard that Ms Chawke allegedly threw a pint glass at the two victims and a number of others who tried to intervene.
It was heard that Bill Chawke allegedly threw punches at both victims and gouged the eyes of one of them and hit his head off a bar counter at the hotel.
The Dunraven Hotel is a well known and prestigious premises, which has hosted members of the British Royal family, sports stars, US Presidents, and Hollywood movie legends.
Prosecuting Garda Ronan Hayes, Adare Garda Station, previously gave evidence in court of arresting and charging the two defendants.
Alison Chawke was represented by senior counsel Mark Nicholas, and Bill Chawke was represented by barrister Henry Kelly, instructed by solicitor Michael Finucane.
Prosecuting barrister Lily Buckley BL was instructed by County Limerick State Solicitor Brendan Gill.
Ms Buckley previously told the court that the two guilty pleas were acceptable to the State on a full facts basis.
She said the court would see CCTV footage in respect of the assaults on the night in question and hear victim impacts statements from the two victims.
The Chawke siblings were first charged in court in Newcastle West in October 2024.
Garda Ronan Hayes told that court that neither of the two defendants made any reply when charged.
Inspector Barry Manton told the court that at 00.30am on November 9, 2023, Alison Chawke and Bill Chawke got involved in a verbal altercation with bar staff at the Dunraven Arms Hotel as well as the two victims.
Inspector Manton claimed the two Chawke siblings “put themselves in the personal space” of the bar staff and the two victims and “began a violent altercation”.
He said that a number of other customers at the bar “tried to break it up”, but the altercation spread from outside the bar into in a hallway at the hotel.
“It was all captured on CCTV,” said Inspector Manton.
“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,” Insp Manton said.
“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.”
The two defendants have been on bail throughout.