Celebrity chef, Conrad Gallagher, had three paintings he is accused of stealing, taken from him by "rough people", the Circuit Criminal Court heard today.
But days before making the claim to Mr John Kavanagh, general manager of Dublin's Fitzwilliam Hotel in St Stephen's Green, Mr Gallagher sold them for an advance payment of Ir£9,000 to an art auctioneer, the jury was told.
Mr Kavanagh claimed in court today that he noticed three paintings the hotel had bought from Mr Gallagher were not on the wall of the Peacock Alley restaurant which was part of the hotel.
The accused ran the restaurant under licence from the hotel but when he was unable to make rental payments, the hotel agreed to buy the paintings to ease Mr Gallagher's financial plight, the court was told.
Mr John Kavanagh said he noticed the paintings missing in late October 2000 and was told by Mr Gallagher that they had been taken away down for more secure fittings to be applied.
However, by November 27th, the paintings had not been returned because, Mr Gallagher claimed, they had taken by "not very pleasant people" to whom he owed money and there was no way of getting them back, Mr Kavanagh said.
Mr Gallagher (32), with an address at Pembroke Road, Ballsbridge, denies stealing three Felim Egan paintings from the Fitzwilliam Hotel on dates unknown between November 2nd and November 22nd, 2000.
He also denies a charge of obtaining money by false pretences on November 21st, 2000 at The Lodge, Killiney Hill Road with intent to defraud.
This charge relates to Mr Gallagher allegedly obtaining an advance fee of Ir£9,000 from art dealer Mr Bryan Greene for the auctioning of the three artworks.
The trial before Judge Yvonne Murphy continues tomorrow.