Alison Chawke released from Limerick Prison four weeks into assault sentence
Alison Chawke, a woman aged 41, and her brother Bill Chawke, a man aged 31, assaulted two men without provocation at the Dunraven Arms Hotel in Adare, Co Limerick, on 9 November 2023. During the attack, Alison Chawke bit John McHugh, a man in his 50s, on the cheek and kicked him in the head, while Bill Chawke wrestled with McHugh on the floor. The siblings pleaded guilty to the assault in July 2026 and were sentenced to two years and two months and two years and six months respectively, with portions of each sentence suspended. Alison Chawke, who had no prior convictions, was released from Limerick Prison on Tuesday in August 2026 under the Community Return Scheme, having served just four weeks of her sentence.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced12 Aug
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Alison Chawke and Bill Chawke assaulted two men without provocation at the Dunraven Arms Hotel.
- Alison Chawke bit John McHugh on the cheek and kicked him in the head, while Bill Chawke wrestled with McHugh on the floor.
- Where
- The assault took place at the Dunraven Arms Hotel in Adare, Co Limerick.
- When
- The assault occurred on 9 November 2023.
- Charges
- The siblings pleaded guilty to the assault in July 2026.
- Sentence
- Bill Chawke was sentenced to two years and six months with the final 12 months suspended.
- Alison Chawke was sentenced to two years and two months with the final 14 months suspended.
- Other details
- Alison Chawke had no prior convictions.
- Alison Chawke was released from Limerick Prison under the Community Return Scheme in August 2026, having served four weeks.
- Alison and Bill Chawke are children of publican Charlie Chawke.
16 statements extracted from the articles
- whatAlison Chawke was released from Limerick Prison on Tuesday having served just a month in custody (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe assault involved attacking two men without provocation at the Dunraven Arms Hotel (irishtimes.com)
- whatAlison Chawke bit John McHugh on his cheek and kicked him in the head during the assault (irishtimes.com)
- whatBill Chawke wrestled with McHugh on the floor of the hotel (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe assault took place in Adare, Co Limerick (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe assault occurred on 9 November 2023 (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe siblings pleaded guilty to the assault the month before the article was published (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceBill Chawke was sentenced to two years and six months with the final 12 months suspended (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceAlison Chawke was sentenced to two years and two months with the final 14 months suspended (irishtimes.com)
- otherAlison Chawke had no prior convictions (irishtimes.com)
- otherAlison Chawke was released under the Community Return Scheme (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe Limerick women's prison was operating at 159 per cent capacity (irishtimes.com)
- otherSeven prisoners were sleeping on mattresses on the floors of cells in the women's prison (irishtimes.com)
- otherThere were 405 inmates and 345 beds at the Limerick men's prison (irishtimes.com)
- other39 male prisoners were sleeping on mattresses on floors in the men's prison (irishtimes.com)
- otherAlison and Bill Chawke are children of prominent publican Charlie Chawke (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 12 Aug2026Alison Chawke released from prison four weeks into sentence for unprovoked assault
Reports Alison Chawke's early release from Limerick Prison under the Community Return Scheme four weeks into her sentence, details the sentencing of both siblings, and includes commentary from political parties and prison capacity data.
convicted, Alison Chawke, 41, female, named, irish (judged from name)Alison Chawkeconvicted, Bill Chawke, 31, male, named, irish (judged from name)Bill Chawkevictim, John McHugh, 50s, male, irish (judged from name)John McHughvictim, male