Dublin court set to bring Gallagher back from USA

Irish courts have cleared the way for an application to extradite celebrity chef Conrad Gallagher from the USA, to face theft charges in Dublin.

Last month, a warrant was issued for his arrest when he failed to turn up for trial at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on charges alleging that he stole paintings worth a10,000 (£6,360) from the city's Fitzwilliam Hotel, which had housed his Peacock Alley restaurant. According to the Gardai, the paintings were subsequently sold.

Gallagher's non-appearance was the latest in a series of delays and postponements of the case, which prompted a final warning from the judge.

Now, the courts have authorised the chief prosecutor's office to seek the chef's extradition from the USA, where he has recently married and opened a new caf‚-bar in Manhattan, the Traffic Bar and Lounge.

However, speaking from New York, Gallagher said that he intended returning to Dublin in January to face the charges.

"Whatever they are planning, I'll save them the trouble," he remarked. "And when the whipping is over, I'll never set foot in the place again."

He claimed the reason he missed the trial was that "my business was too new to be left alone at that stage", and he had tried to get an adjournment but failed.

Source: Caterer & Hotelkeeper magazine, 14 - 20 November 2002