Art dealer guilty on receiving charges

April 1985

ASSORTED silverware, jewellery, war medals and other miscellaneous items, valued at over £6,000, were produced in evidence at Wicklow Circuit Court during a jury trial in which German-born Gunter Reindl of Bray pleaded not guilty to receiving property, knowing same to have been stolen.

Reindl, described as a painter, silversmith and art restorer, was found guilty on a 10-2 majority verdict and was remanded on bail for sentencing.

Evidence was given that an assortment of property, which had been stolen from three dwelling houses, was found during a garda search of the accused’s house.

There were three owners, from Bray, Greystones and Lucan.

The court heard that the accused made a statement to gardai saying ‘ Two men called to my house. I was not there. They left a box of silver items. I don’t know if they were for valuing or for sale. I don’t know their names and I don’t know if the silver was for restoration.’

Later, when charged, the accused ‘I did not know the property was stolen.’

He also said that he had purchased some of the property from a dealer t auction in Allen & Townsend in Dublin.

He claimed that those responsible for leaving the stolen property at his home did not return for same because they would have read an article in the local newspaper stating that he had been charged.

The accused said in his evidence that he would have a lot of property in his house for restoration. When the gardai called, he was asked if there was anything in the house which did not belong to him.

He showed them the box of silverware, indicating that he did not know who owned it.

It had been left at the house by two gentlemen who said they would call again.

When he examined some of the items he found they all required restoration work and he assumed the owner would contact him about it.

Mrs Reindl confirmed her husband’s explanation.

In his address to the jury, Mr James O’Reilly BL described the accused’s explanation at a ‘fairy tale’.

Mr Sean Ryn, SC, for the accused, urged the jury to accept that the accused had given a consistent account of the incident and he submitted that it was a completely innocent transaction.

Judge Roe said the question the jury much concentrate on was whether or not the accused, when he received the property, knew it was stolen.

After an absence of over three hours, the jury returned a majority verdict of guilty on all three counts.

The court heard that the accused was 42 years of age and a native of West Germany. He had two previous convictions in England for criminal damage and shoplifting.