Clarification: An earlier version of this article included a photograph of one of the defendants with her solicitor. The image was incorrectly captioned with the name of her co-defendant. We would like to clarify that the image was of Michael Finucane, a solicitor and principal of his law firm Michael Finucane Solicitors.

A DAUGHTER AND son of prominent publican Charlie Chawke were charged in court today with violently assaulting two men, at the 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 on 9 November, 2023.

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, 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”, said Inspector Manton.

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 to 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 by him on the cheek”,” alleged Insp Manton.

The accused’s solicitor, Michael Finucane, told the court he was “not in a position to contradict or challenge this version of the facts as disclosure has been withheld up to this point”.

Finucane described a medical report in respect of the allege injured parties as “unremarkable” but, he said, another medical report had contained language which, in his opinion, is “inadmissible” and “inappropriate”.

Judge Coolican said she wished to see all CCTV footage of the alleged incident, as well as any other footage, including mobile phone footage, before she would decide on whether or not she could hold jurisdiction on the matter.

The matter was adjourned to 2pm when Judge Coolican, Inspector Manton and Mr Finucane are to view any and all available video footage of the alleged incident.