Charlie Chawkeâs son and daughter sentenced for assault in Adare hotel
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Son and daughter of publican Charlie Chawke jailed for Limerick hotel assault
Alison and Bill Chawke
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14 Jul 2026 10:30 AM
The son and daughter of prominent publican Charlie Chawke have both been jailed for an unprovoked assault on two men in a Limerick hotel.
At a hearing in Limerick Circuit Court, Bill Chawke was given a sentence of two years and six months with the final 12 months suspended.
While Alison Chawke was given a sentence of two years and two months, with the final 14 months suspended.
Alison and Bill Chawke attacked the two innocent men at the Dunraven Arms Hotel, on November 9, 2023.
The court previously heard that mother-of three, Alison Chawke, (41), bit one of the men, John McHugh, (50s), on the left side of his face during the incident.
Ms Chawke also delivered a number of kicks at Mr McHughâs head, as her brother 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, Adare, 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 gardai, 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 hotelâs 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.
Alison Chawke. Photo: Brendan Gleeson
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 gardai Bill Chawke âwas stubborn and arrogant and asked for food again and againâ and that Mr Chawke continued ringing the night managerâs 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 âlungedâ at Mr Cox âhittingâ 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.
Bill Chawke. Photo: Brendan Gleeson
Alison Chawke âlocked ontoâ the left side of Mr McHughâs face biting him on his left cheek, said Ms Buckley.
Mr Cox told gardai he felt his eyes being gouged during the attack and that he âdid not do anything to draw such a vicious responseâ 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 gardai by appointment.
Alison Chawke was arrested at the scene as she had initially refused to give gardai 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 âembarrassmentâ to the Chawke family, said Mr Hartnett.
Mr Nicholas said it had left a âstainâ on Adare village where the Chawke family own a number of pubs.
Mr Nicholas said the âthe publicity has been significantâ for both accused, however he continued, âwell, you make your bed, and you must lie in itâ.
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at least 12 months at the taxpayers leisure
are they to undergo anger management and substance abuse courses? or will that be the weasel at their appeal?
I suppose the courts couldnt deem to be too lenient in the face of significant Limerick people after the Kyle Hayes debacle.
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I still wouldâŚ
A pair of insignificant cunts. Keep up, Johnny.
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Charlie Chawke is right.
That is a fair lash for a first offence, and injuries at the lower end of the scale. Equality before the law at work I suppose.
Very shocked to see that verdict. I presume appeal papers have been lodged already?
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They should of used Kyle Hayesâs legal team
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Couldnât afford it 
âofâ. 
Itâs creeping into his posts of late. Heâll end up like @binkybarnes if he doesnât watch himself
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Besides the ones youâd expect j take it for granted that most people use it ironically, another TFKism 
More like, didnât qualify for it. Wasnât Kyle on the free legal aid?
I remember my younger brother going into the Goat in Goatstown one year and asked Charlie if hed be interested or if he knew someone else interested in 2 tickets for the All Ireland. He was on intercounty team at the time and was entitled to 2. Good few years ago now. He was trying to raise funds for a set of juvenile jerseys back home and said that to him. Probably should have done it by way of a fundraiser but he went the wrong way about it. Charlie ripped him a new one anyway. Threatened to get the tickets cancelled and get Croke Park involved. Not the nicest guy youd ever meet by all accounts. Bit of an education or eye opener for him at the time.
A cunt by all accounts.
He made the mistake of taking on the burglars that time and got shot in the leg.
Better off to pick your battles.
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I know someone who received a phone call from Charlie at around midnight the night before an All Ireland final offering him 2 tickets to the final that had just appeared in The Goat on the Saturday Night free gratis. Would be funny if they were the same tickets
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Charlie runs the sort of place that sindo reading boomers love.
What will happen now?
You wouldnt see any of the Heavyweight Tipp Publicans in Dublin involved in this sort of carry on.