SENTENCING has been adjourned in the case of siblings Alison and Bill Chawke, who pleaded guilty to assaulting two men at a prestigious hotel in Adare, County Limerick, three years ago.
The two defendants, the children of prominent publican Charlie Chawke, attacked the two innocent victims without provocation at the Dunraven Arms Hotel on November 9, 2023, a court was told.
Judgement in the case was due to be heard at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court today (Monday), however the siblings’ sentences were adjourned to June 3 to hear a date to finalise the matter.
Last Thursday, the court heard the two defendants played important roles within the family’s pub business but had brought “embarrassment” on the family name with the incident.
The court heard that Alison Chawke (41) bit one of the men, John McHugh (50s), on the side of his face.
Ms Chawke also delivered a number of kicks at Mr McHugh’s head, the court heard, as Bill Chawke (31) wrestled with him on the floor of the hotel.
Alison Chawke, The Beeches, Holywell, Goatstown, Dublin 14, pleaded guilty on a full facts basis to assault causing harm to Mr McHugh at the Dunraven Arms Hotel on November 9, 2023.
Bill Chawke, Merrion Street Upper, Dublin 2, admitted on a full facts basis to assault causing harm to Gerard Cox, a friend of Mr McHugh, at the hotel on the same date.
The two defendants told Gardaí following their arrest that they had consumed 14 drinks between them on the night.
They had perceived, in their intoxication, that Mr Cox and Mr McHugh were staring and smirking at them at the hotel bar, said prosecuting counsel Lily Buckley, instructed by State Solicitor Brendan Gill.
The assaults were captured on a mobile phone camera as well as the hotel’s CCTV system.
The CCTV and video footage was played in court showing Alison and Bill Chawke throwing kicks and punches at the two men inside the bar and inside the lobby of the hotel.
Ms Buckley said Bill Chawke had demanded to be served food at the bar, despite being told by staff that bar food was no longer available as it was beyond midnight.
Ms Buckley said a night manager, who was on duty at the time, told Gardaí Bill Chawke “was stubborn and arrogant and asked for food again and again” and that Mr Chawke continued ringing the night manager’s phoneline demanding food.
Ms Buckley said Mr Cox politely asked Bill Chawke to stop annoying the bar staff, Bill Chawke then approached Mr Cox and got into a verbal altercation with him.
Ms Buckley said Bill Chawke then “lunged” at Mr Cox “hitting” him, while other patrons at the bar attempted to restrain Mr Chawke. Meanwhile, Alison Chawke, who initially tried to pull her brother away from the scene, began kicking out and swinging her hands at the two victims.
The CCTV footage showed Alison Chawke walking behind the bar, picking up a pint glass, and throwing it in the direction of the two victims, however the glass did not break.
Mr Chawke followed Mr Cox out of the bar and into the lobby area and continued assaulting him on the ground. Alison Chawke “locked onto” the left side of Mr McHugh’s face biting him on his left cheek, said Ms Buckley.
Mr Cox told Gardaí he felt his eyes being gouged during the attack and that he “did not do anything to draw such a vicious response” from the two defendants.
Mr Cox suffered a swollen eyelid, bruising, a black eye, pain in his cheekbone, and mental trauma.
Mr McHugh suffered a bite to his left cheek, abrasions to his face, forehead, and ear, soft tissue damage to his neck and shoulders, as well as mental trauma.
Later on Bill Chawke met Gardaí by appointment. Alison Chawke was arrested at the scene as she had initially refused to give Gardaí her name because she said she did not want her father to find out what had happened, the court heard.
Hugh Harnett and Mark Nicholas, senior counsel for Bill Chawke and Alison Chawke respectively, asked the court not jail the siblings.
In mitigation, the two barristers argued that the court must take into account the defendants guilty pleas and that it was their first offence.
The siblings behaviour on the night had brought “embarrassment” to the Chawke family, said Mr Hartnett.
Mr Nicholas said it had left a “stain” on Adare village where the Chawke family own a number of pubs.
Mr Nicholas said the “the publicity has been significant” for both accused, however he continued, “you make your bed, and you must lie in it”.