Shot publican making good recovery in rehabilitation

The publican Mr Charlie Chawke who lost a leg following an armed robbery at Goatstown, Dublin, last month said he hopes to be "up and running" - with the help of an artificial limb - by Christmas.

Speaking yesterday from the National Rehabilitation Hospital, Dún Laoghaire, the 54-year-old father of five said he was making "good progress" since the amputation of part of his right leg on October 11th, five days after the shooting outside The Goat pub. "The rehab is hard but it's good. I can see the progress. Christmas is my deadline. I want to be up standing under the mistletoe for Christmas, and I might even get a kiss," he joked.

The publican took a break from hospital at the weekend to attend a rugby match at St Mary's and return to the scene of the shooting. "I have no flashes or hang ups about it. Someone else will take case of those people [involved in the raid] and I will take care of myself." He added that he wished to thank everyone who had helped him, from gardaí and medical staff to friends and members of the public who had sent messages of support. "It's great to see so much goodwill. People are great in this country when you are down." Speaking earlier on RTÉ's Today with Pat Kenny, Mr Chawke described how he was confronted by an armed man as he left the pub with the takings.

"He said 'Just give me the f****** bag', and whatever happened, anyway, he just said 'You're a smart arse' and took aim and fired, and blew my knee away with his shotgun."