Conrad Gallagher may be extradited 'within days'

Celebrity chef Conrad Gallagher could be extradited to Ireland "within a matter of days", according to a lawyer central to the case in New York.

The Irish Government's representative in the extradition case, assistant US attorney, Ms Lara Gatz, told ireland.comthat Mr Gallagher would be returned under guard to Ireland as soon as his flight details were confirmed. She said she expected this to happen within a month at the latest.

He will be accompanied on the flight by two US Federal Marshalls.

Mr Gallagher (32) formerly of Killiney, Co Dublin, has been detained on an extradition warrant at the Metropolitan Detention Centre in Brooklyn since his arrest on April 10th outside his Manhattan bar, Traffic.

He faces charges in relation to the alleged theft of three paintings worth over €11,000, which he allegedly sold in December 2000. The paintings were claimed to be the property of the Fitzwilliam Hotel, St Stephen's Green, Dublin, the location of Mr Gallagher's Peacock Alley restaurant.

Judge Elizabeth Dunne issued the extradition order after Mr Gallagher failed to turn up for trial in Dublin on October 15th last.

At a hearing at Brooklyn Federal Court on foot of the extradition warrant, Mr Gallagher waived his right to contest the warrant.

His counsel Mr Douglas Morris has asked that Mr Gallagher be returned to Ireland as quickly as possible so he can continue treatment for testicular cancer.Mr Gallagher said he was diagnosed with cancer in 1996, and was undergoing his third course of chemotherapy, making him unfit to travel.

According to papers registered in a Brooklyn court, Mr Gallagher sold the paintings for £9,000, or $12,289, to an auctioneer in Dublin, with a provision to buy them back for £10,000, or $13,655.

The papers state Mr Gallagher did not buy them back and the paintings were sold at auction and later recovered.