Publican Charlie Chawke told prosecuting counsel Patrick McCarthy SC that he came out of the Goat Grill at about 12.30pm with a yellow bag containing cash and cheques from a number of his licenced premises.
He got into his silver Mercedes and placed the bag in the divide between the driver and passenger seats.
Mr Chawke said he saw in his driver door mirror a man get out of the driver's side of a red Volkswagen car parked some distance behind him. The man was carrying a shotgun on a strap over his shoulder. The man came up to his car, opened the driver's door with the gun pointing downwards and said "Give me the f**king money".
Mr Chawke said he saw an opportunity and dived for the gun but missed it and fell out on to the ground. His attacker said "You are a f**king smart arse" before taking aim from a distance of 12 inches and shooting him in the knee.
Mr Chawke then heard a Garda siren go off and the man said "f**king cops" before leaning over him and taking the bag.
The publican said he was unable to stop the man who ran back to the red car because "my leg was gone and I was in considerable pain and shaking".
He then saw two plain clothes individuals run after the man to the red car. They began to beat on the car with batons but then jumped back shouting "they are armed". The red car then sped off in the direction of Stillorgan.
Mr Chawke said he was assisted by some of his staff and an ambulance was called. He was taken to hospital and his leg was amputated five days later.
He denied during cross-examination by Ward that he had "as a businessman" sought to use the situation to take advantage of an "ODC" and affect a citizen's arrest. Mr Ward defined "ODC" to Judge Pat McCartan to mean "ordinary decent criminal".
Mr Chawke disagreed with Ward who claimed that he had not fallen completely out of the car. "My back was on the ground and my right leg was severed."