Chef feared for his life while in jail

CELEBRITY chef Conrad Gallagher has spoken of how he feared for his life in a New York jail while awaiting extradition to Ireland.

The 32-year-old Donegal man claims he felt threatened by razor-wielding criminals during the six weeks he spent in custody at the Brooklyn Detention Centre in New York.

Gallagher also admitted that he is experiencing financial difficulties over huge legal costs and debts from his failed businesses in Ireland.

The youngest-ever Michelin star chef is pleading innocent to charges relating to the theft of three paintings from his former restaurant, Peacock Alley at the Fitzwilliam Hotel, St Stephen’s Green in Dublin.

Mr Gallagher was granted bail by the High Court last week on condition he signs on twice daily at Donnybrook garda station.

He has also given an undertaking to reside at an address on Pembroke Road in Ballsbridge and surrender his passport while he awaits the start of his trial in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on June 30.

Gallagher is reported to have been paid €10,000 for giving an interview to one Sunday newspaper at the weekend.

The colourful businessman said he dreaded a daily shower at the detention centre because of fear of being raped or murdered by one of his fellow inmates.

Gallagher said he was concerned he could become a victim of a violent attack because of widespread racial hatred among other prisoners. “Sometimes I’d be showering and I’d think ‘this is it’. We’d get razors to shave ourselves and I’d be certain that someone was going to slit my throat.”

Gallagher said he felt under constant threat from black and Hispanic prisoners because of their obvious hatred of white people. The chef claims he constantly felt intimidated by other prisoners who threatened to knife and rape him because of his colour. “I never felt safe, even when the prison officers were around,” he added.

However, the chef believes he was probably saved by building up a friendship with some Mafia inmates who appreciated his culinary talents and his Irish background.

Gallagher, who lost more than three and a half stone while in prison, says he befriended Italian mobsters by serving them up special treats from leftovers from the prison’s canteen.

He also indicated that he intends to return to the US to restart his career once his current trial is over.

However, the future of his involvement in Traffic, the restaurant he opened in the New York borough of Manhattan, remains unclear.