Ex-smuggler won’t show paintings at restaurant

A FORMER diamond smuggler and Mafia ship captain, now a reclusive artist, has withdrawn an exhibition which he was due to hold in Neil Prendeville’s Cork city centre restaurant.

Martin Bengtsson said he had been asked by the 96fm anchor to put on a display of paintings at his Lapp’s Quay Boardwalk eaterie after he was interviewed by him on the station earlier this year.

Mr Bengtsson, who teaches three students how to create forgeries of their favourite paintings, said he and his class had completed 30 pieces which they intended to put on display in the restaurant.