Two held after shooting of leading Dublin publican

The two men being questioned last night in connection with yesterday's shooting of a well-known Dublin publican, and with opening fire on gardaí, are believed to have criminal records. The two men are in their 50s and their last known addresses were in Finglas and Tallaght.

Both were being held at Blackrock Garda station, Dublin, last night and were being questioned under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act.

At around 12.30 p.m. yesterday publican Mr Charlie Chawke was shot by armed raiders outside one of his pubs, The Goat, in Goatstown.

Mr Chawke was removing the weekend's takings from the south Dublin pub and restaurant when the raiders struck.

He sustained a shotgun wound to his leg despite having given the armed men the money.

Mr Chawke was recovering in St Vincent's Hospital last night after undergoing surgery.

While he lost a considerable amount of blood his condition was not thought to be life-threatening.

Both of his attackers were armed with sawn-off shotguns.

They were apprehended by unarmed gardaí at the Stillorgan Heath housing estate, Upper Kilmacud Road, shortly after the raid. They fired at least one shot at the officers.

Mr Chawke's friend and businessman Mr Oliver McDonald, who was with him when the shooting happened, said he feared both he and his friend would be killed by the attackers.

"We saw these masked men beside the main road and they took out guns, sawn-off shotguns," he said.

"They shouted over to Charlie to give the money, he was carrying a bag of money . . . I shouted to free him and not shoot. He left the money there for them to take it."

After Mr Chawke was shot in the leg, Mr McDonald ran back into the pub to call for assistance," he added.

Mr McDonald said he was in shock and thought his life was in danger and that they would shoot him.

"I was terrified. There was a lot of blood coming from Charlie's leg. He was in very heavy pain. He was lying across the car and there was blood running down the side of the car."

Gardaí chased them on foot and arrested two men nearby. They found two firearms and a sum of money.

Last night the Minister for Justice, Mr McDowell, said: "I wish to congratulate the members of An Garda Síochána for their bravery in confronting these armed thugs and to commend them for the speedy way in which they dealt with the matter."

"Here again we have another example of the courage and dedication to duty by members of our police force of which we can be proud and grateful."