Celebrity chef vows to return to fight theft charge

CELEBRITY chef Conrad Gallagher has vowed to return to Ireland to face charges of stealing paintings from a top Dublin hotel.

A warrant has been issued for the arrest of the Donegal-born chef after he failed to turn up for the Dublin Circuit Court hearing earlier this week. The recently married 31-year-old is living in the United States and has opened the Traffic bar and restaurant in midtown Manhattan.

Speaking from the bar yesterday, a close friend of Mr Gallagher, said the chef is innocent and wants to come back to face the charges. The friend claimed Mr Gallagher failed to turn up in court as he had a temporary problem with his travel documents.