Two men accused of shooting Dublin publican Charlie Chawke have lost a High Court attempt to stop the Director of Public Prosecutions taking any further steps in prosecuting them.
When their case was heard by Ms Justice Elizabeth Dunne last April, it was stated the men had already spent 18 months in custody.
In a reserved judgment on the men’s proceedings today, the judge said the delays involved were not so excessive as to breach the men’s right to an expeditious trial or to overbear the community’s right to have the offence prosecuted.
Frank Ward (52), Knocksmore Avenue, Tallaght, Dublin, and Larry Cummins (55), Summerhill Parade, Dublin, are in custody on charges arising from the robbery of €52,000 from Mr Chawke in the car park of the Goat Grill, Goatstown, Dublin, on October 6th, 2003.
They were arrested on the day of the shooting and returned for trial on December 3rd, 2003. A trial date was fixed for October 2004.