Alison Chawke Released From Prison After Limerick Assault
Alison Chawke, jailed for 12 months for an assault in Adare, has been released after serving just four weeks. She was freed under the Community Return Scheme, which facilitates early release for qualifying prisoners completing community work.
Key takeaways
- Alison Chawke was released from prison after serving four weeks of a 12-month sentence.
- She pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to two men at a Limerick hotel in 2023.
- Chawke was released under the Community Return Scheme, involving supervised community work.
- The scheme is designed for qualifying prisoners and aims to reduce overcrowding.
What Happened
Alison Chawke, 41, has been released from Limerick Female Prison after serving 28 days of a 12-month sentence for an assault causing harm. The release occurred on Tuesday, August 11, exactly four weeks into her jail term.
Chawke and her brother, Bill Chawke, pleaded guilty to assaulting two men at the Dunraven Arms Hotel in Adare on November 9, 2023. During the incident, Chawke bit one of the victims on the left cheek, an act described by the judge as "unprovoked" and possessing "an element of ferocity." CCTV footage showed the assault escalating from a bar area to the hotel's front reception. Chawke also admitted to gardaí that her behaviour was not justified.
She was sentenced on July 14 to two years and two months, with the final 14 months suspended, contingent on her good behaviour.
Background
Chawke's early release is understood to be part of the Community Return Scheme, an Irish Prison Service initiative for the supervised release of qualifying prisoners. This program incentivizes early release for inmates who undertake unpaid community work. Eligibility criteria include serving between one and eight years, completing at least 50% of a sentence, and being assessed as posing no threat to the community. The scheme aims to reduce prison overcrowding and allow offenders to contribute to their communities.
A source suggested that overcrowding at Limerick Female Prison may have contributed to Chawke's early release. The Irish Prison Service declined to comment on individual cases.
Sources reviewed
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