Dublin publican Charlie Chawke, giving evidence in the trial of a man accused of armed robbery, looked nervous but determined when he appeared at the Circuit Criminal Court yesterday.
Leaning on a walking stick, the owner of The Goat Grill took the stand in a navy pinstripe suit and yellow tie and swore to tell the truth about what happened on October 6th, 2003, the day that led to the loss of his right leg.
The defendant, Larry Cummins, Mellowes Road, Finglas, denied the five charges against him including the robbery of more than €48,000 from Mr Chawke and the possession of a firearm.
The publican described in a quiet voice how he worked on his accounts and spoke to customers in the bar of The Goat Grill before leaving with cash and cheques to go to the bank.
He gave vivid evidence of how he was shot, under questioning by counsel for the Director of Public Prosecutions Paddy McCarthy SC, before acknowledging that photographs taken by gardaí of cheques and money retrieved after the robbery did indeed belong to him.
He also described the man who shot him as being 5ft 10in with dark stubble, later identified as not being the defendant.
Mr Cummins was seated at the far left of the court wearing dark trousers and a white and blue striped shirt. He did not look at Mr Chawke as he gave evidence.
At times he leaned on the back of the seat in front of him, his head on his arms.
At other times he made notes on paper held between the pages of what seemed to be a Bible.
Mr Chawke was on the stand for less than 10 minutes, and was not cross-examined by Mr Cummins's counsel Bernard Nix SC.
Each time evidence was concluded, Mr Nix said: "On the instructions of my client, my lord, I have no questions."
The case progressed rapidly due to the lack of cross-examination, and six gardaí gave evidence, including photographers, a cartographer and the two gardaí who had pursued the armed robbers as they tried to escape.
