Mystery illness keeps Gallagher from court

A case against Michelin-starred chef Conrad Gallagher, due to be heard in the Irish Circuit Criminal Court in Dublin, was adjourned last week after the court was told he was in New York and "unfit to travel".

The court heard that Gallagher had planned to return from the USA a number of weeks ago, "but didn't do so on medical advice". The nature of his illness was not explained, and the case has now been postponed until June.

Gallagher, who is on bail, faces charges in relation to three paintings, valued at more than €10,000 (£6,265), which he sold some 18 months ago. They were reported missing by Dublin's Fitzwilliam hotel, which then housed his Peacock Alley restaurant.

He was arrested and charged, despite claiming that the incident arose from a misunderstanding. The case could have been dealt with quickly in the Dublin District Court, which handles relatively minor offences, but Gallagher, insisting he had done nothing wrong, opted for trial in the Circuit Criminal Court, where the penalty could be more severe.

The chef's career has been dealt a double blow in recent months. The first came when he left the restaurant carrying his name in London's Shaftesbury Avenue because the owners cancelled his contract.

Then, after he returned to work full-time at Peacock Alley in Dublin, the Fitzwilliam hotel terminated its agreement with him and closed the restaurant he had been running for four years.

A shortlist of six candidates to take over the restaurant has now been drawn up by the hotel, which hopes to reopen it by the end of June, in time for the peak tourist season. No names have been revealed but, according to a spokeswoman, two of the candidates are from the UK and the others are from Ireland and the Continent.

by Anthony Garvey

Source: Caterer & Hotelkeeper magazine, 23-29 May 2002