Celebrity chef fails to stop theft trial

Leading chef Conrad Gallagher has failed in his attempt to stop his trial for the alleged theft of three paintings from going ahead as planned next Tuesday at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

Lawyers for Mr Gallagher argued before Judge Elizabeth Dunne that the celebrity chef had married a woman from the United States of America last month and he was currently in the process of applying for US citizenship.

Judge Dunne refused the application because she set the trial date last July and remarked that surely at that point Mr Gallagher knew about his forthcoming wedding.

“Unless Mr Gallagher got married on the strength of a fleeting glance across a room then he would have known about his wedding in July. Nothing was said to me,” she said.

“If he wants to treat the courts with that kind of attitude, so be it. He has already received more than enough leeway in this matter.

“Anything further that has to be said on his behalf can be said in front of the trial judge on Tuesday morning. I’m not vacating the trial,” she added.

Mr Gallagher’s trial date was listed for October 15 back in July after the court heard he would be pleading not guilty.

Mr Gallagher, formerly of Killiney Hill Road, Killiney, is facing charges in relation to three paintings which he allegedly sold in December 2000.

The paintings were claimed to be the property of the Fitzwilliam Hotel, on St Stephen’s Green, Dublin, which was the location of Mr Gallagher’s Peacock Alley Restaurant.

Ms Melanie Greally BL, prosecuting, told Judge Dunne the trial would last three days.

Mr Gallagher was arrested by gardaí and questioned at Harcourt Terrace Station about the alleged theft of the paintings. He was later charged in Dublin District Court and sent forward for trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

This latest attempt by the well-known chef is not the first time he has tried to delay standing trial for the alleged art theft.

At a previous court sitting, counsel for Mr Gallagher said the chef and restauranteur was in New York and unfit to travel.

Judge Dunne was told then that Mr Gallagher had a ticket to return from New York a number of weeks before but didn’t do so on foot of medical advice.

There was a report in court.

At the time, Ms Greally said the report was unsatisfactory but the State was willing to consent to the adjournment so that Mr Gallagher’s position could be clarified.

Mr Gallagher later appeared court to hear his trial date being fixed by Judge Dunne and was remanded on continuing bail.