Gardai are investigating a complaint that three paintings sold by the Dublin restaurateur and chef, Conrad Gallagher, earlier this week were stolen.
The paintings were reported missing by the proprietors of the Fitzwilliam Hotel, Dublin, from where Mr Gallagher runs his Peacock Alley restaurant.
Mr Gallagher was arrested by gardai on Wednesday and questioned at Harcourt Terrace Station about the alleged theft of the paintings. A file is being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions. According to Garda sources, the paintings were sold last Tuesday at auction by Adams of Blackrock as part of a selection of items, including furniture, submitted by Mr Gallagher.
The auctioneers were unaware there was any dispute over the provenance of the paintings.
Mr Gallagher could not be contacted yesterday. But he was reported in the Sunday World as saying that the complaint that the paintings had been stolen was a result of a "misunderstanding". He said he believed the paintings belonged to him.
The Garda investigation began after complaint was made by the owners of the hotel, Ampleforth Ltd. Gardai are attempting to recover the paintings with the help of the auctioneers.
Last month the High Court ordered that Mr Gallagher should not dispose of his Killiney house, valued at £700,000, until the landlord of another of his restaurants obtains £64,000 which he claims is owed to him.