Gallagher arrested in relation to alleged art theft

Celebrity Irish chef Conrad Gallagher, who has been accused of stealing paintings from a Dublin hotel, has been arrested in New York.

Gallagher was appeared in Brooklyn federal court yesterday accused of stealing three paintings worth $50,000 (€47,000) from the hotel where he once ran a popular restaurant. He was remanded in custody pending an extradition hearing. No date was set.

Gallagher’s lawyer, Doug Morris, declined to comment.

Acting on recent information provided by Irish investigators, US marshals tracked down Gallagher and arrested him outside his Manhattan bar, called Traffic, said John Sheehan, spokesman for the US Marshals Service.

Gallagher, 31, who has appeared on television and cooked for stars in Ireland, left the country last year on the eve of his trial. He has claimed he is the rightful owner of the paintings, according to press reports.

If convicted, Gallagher faces up to 20 years in prison.