Chef Conrad Gallagher told gardai in a statement he knew three paintings belonged to the Fitzwilliam Hotel and he shouldn't have sold them, the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard today.
Det Sgt Tom O'Dwyer told prosecuting counsel, Ms Melanie Greally BL, that Mr Gallagher made the statement to gardai after initial denials on December 7th, 2000 saying that he wished to "tell the full truth about the paintings".
Mr Gallagher (32), formerly of Killiney Hill Road, Killiney, and with an address at Pembroke Road, Ballsbridge, denies stealing three abstract Felim Egan paintings from the Fitzwilliam Hotel on St Stephens Greene on dates unknown between November 2nd and November 22nd, 2000.
Mr Gallagher also pleaded not guilty to obtaining money by false pretences on November 21st, 2000 at The Lodge, Killiney Hill Road with intent to defraud through getting Ir£9,000 from Mr Bryan Greene by falsely pretending that three Felim Egan abstract paintings were his property to sell.
In the same statement to Det Sgt O'Dwyer, Mr Gallagher said he had made 'a gentlemen's agreement' with an auctioneer to hold the paintings for him in exchange for Ir£9,000 which he needed urgently in order to pay his staff.
Yesterday the court heard from Mr Bryan Greene, the auctioneer who had bought the paintings from Mr Gallagher at his home. He said he visited Mr Gallagher's home on November 21st, 2000 where he had valued several items that Mr Gallagher wanted to sell.
Mr Gallagher was to return the money to the auctioneers with interest, amounting to Ir10,000 in total within one week. Failure to do so would mean that his items would go on public auction on December 4th, 2000 and if the sale realised more than Ir£10,000, he would be given the balance
Mr Greene said Mr Gallagher had not returned the money by December 4th, 2000 and the paintings were sold at public auction on that day.