Gallagher in court charged with theft

Irish chef and restaurateur Conrad Gallagher, whose new restaurant on London's Shaftesbury Avenue opened earlier this year, has appeared in court in Dublin, charged with the theft of paintings.

Gallagher, 30, is accused of stealing the paintings, valued at more than IR£8,000 (£6,341), from Dublin's Fitzwilliam hotel, which houses his Peacock Alley restaurant. A woman police officer arrested him "by appointment", the city's district court heard.

Judge Miriam Malone was told that he would be pleading not guilty to the charges, which include false pretences as well as theft. He was remanded on his own bail of IR£300 (£237) and is due to appear again on 20 December, when the Irish director of public prosecutions will have decided whether the case should be heard in the district court or circuit court, and on what date.

The charges relate to the disappearance of three paintings from the hotel just over a year ago. At the time, police sources said the paintings had been sold at an auction in Dublin as part of a collection of items, including furniture, submitted by Gallagher. The auctioneers were unaware about any dispute over their ownership, the sources said.

The chef was questioned for several hours about the paintings at a Dublin police station before being released. A statement said a file was being prepared for the Irish DPP, who would decide whether a case should be brought to court.

At the time, Gallagher said his arrest was the result of a "misunderstanding" between him and the hotel. He was then experiencing financial difficulties with his business and described the incident as "the worst moment in the worst year of my life, the pinnacle of a horrendous year".

by Anthony Garvey

Source: Caterer & Hotelkeeper magazine, 29 November - 5 December 2001