Celebrity chef Conrad Gallagher suggested more than two months ago that three paintings, which he was accused of stealing from Dublin's Fitzwilliam Hotel, be given to charity, it has been claimed.
The compromise suggested by Mr Gallagher on August 12th was rejected by the hotel, the chef's solicitor, Mr Carl Haugh- ton, has told The Irish Times.
Mr Gallagher dropped his ownership claim to the three Felim Egan abstracts last Thursday. Dublin District Court then ordered they be returned to the Fitzwilliam Hotel, which donated them to charity the following day.
Mr Gallagher's friends have accused the Fitzwilliam of "petty-mindedness" in "wasting two months in legal wrangling, then agreeing to a course of action Conrad initially suggested".
They say the hotel's attitude was one of "sour grapes", following the chef's acquittal in July for stealing the paintings from the premises.
"The Fitzwilliam has been engaged in a clever PR exercise," one friend said.
"Conrad's solicitor suggested over two months ago that the paintings be auctioned and the proceeds given to the Irish Cancer Society.
"The hotel wrote back saying they were rejecting the proposition. They said they already contributed to many worthy causes, yet they have now given the paintings to charity. It seems to be sour grapes against Conrad.
"They wanted to deny him any credibility in this affair. They wanted to come up smelling of roses and for him to look as bad as possible."
A spokesman for the Fitzwilliam yesterday strongly defended its position. "No decision could have been taken regarding the paintings until last week's court hearing.
"The court decided the paintings belonged to the Fitzwilliam Hotel. The hotel felt it had been fully vindicated and decided immediately that the paintings should be donated to a charity."
Following his acquittal for theft in July, Mr Gallagher had pledged to fight for the return of the €10,900 art.
Mr Haughton said his client's decision to drop the ownership claim was not a tacit admission that he stole the paintings in the first place.
"He decided not to pursue ownership because we told him it could involve four legal cases, costing at least €20,000 - far more than the paintings were actually worth. It was a purely commercial decision on Conrad's part."