A garda sergeant said she feared for her life and those of her colleagues when a raider shot at their patrol car windscreen following a pursuit from the scene of the robbery and shooting of publican Charlie Chawke.
Sgt Michelle Gettings was giving evidence on day two of the trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of one of two men accused of the shooting outside the Goat Grill in Goatstown in October 2003.
Larry Cummins (54), of Mellowes Road, Finglas, has pleaded not guilty to intentionally causing serious harm to Mr Chawke, robbery of €48,652 in cash and cheques, possession of a shotgun with the intention to commit robbery and two counts of possession of a shotgun with the intention of resisting arrest at The Goat Grill, Goatstown and Stillorgan Heath on October 6th, 2003.
Sgt Gettings said she was the driver of a patrol car that had stopped at traffic lights outside the Goat Grill when she heard a loud bang and saw smoke coming from a sawn-off shotgun held by a man running towards a red car. He got into the driver seat and sped off.
She pursued the red car through a number of housing estates and into a cul-de-sac at Stillorgan Heath but slowed her vehicle when the passenger in the vehicle, Larry Cummins, pointed a shotgun at the patrol car.
She said two men got out of the car and pointed two sawn-off shotguns at the patrol car. The driver fired a shot at the windscreen before both men ran down a laneway.
The jury earlier heard that Garda Nigel Burke and Garda David Sweeney chased the raiders on foot and apprehended them.
The jury earlier heard that Mr Chawke got into his car outside the pub around lunch time with a bag containing cash and cheques. He said that a man holding a shotgun approached his car, opened the door and demanded the bag.
Mr Chawke tried to grab the gun but missed and the raider took aim and fired a shot into his right knee.
Mary Barry, a consultant at St Vincent's Hospital, told Paddy McCarthy SC (with Fergal Foley), prosecuting, that Mr Chawke's leg had to be amputated as a result of his injuries. Mr Chawke suffered extensive bleeding and bone and muscle damage to his thigh, knee and calf.
Mr Chawke was operated on immediately and his injury was described as "extremely serious". Ms Barry said there was "complete disruption" of the vein and artery running behind his knee. After a number of days, Mr Chawke's foot and leg deteriorated and a decision was made to amputate.
Brendan Nix SC, defending, has not cross-examined any witnesses and has repeatedly told the court that "on the instruction of my client I have no questions".
The trial continues before Judge Frank O'Donnell and a jury of four men and eight women.