Irish reality star flees Australia following assault charge

The 28-year-old was charged with assaulting and choking his ex-girlfriend.

The 28-year-old Donegal native, who found fame on the hit show Below Deck Mediterranean, was facing charges over an alleged attack on his ex-girlfriend and mother of his child, Gael Cameron, at her Sydney apartment last December.

Gallagher was scheduled to appear before Judge Janine Lacy at Burwood Local Court on Tuesday, September 1, but did not attend.

The prosecutor told the court they believed Gallagher was "offshore at this time" and requested that the matter be heard in his absence.

Judge Lacy subsequently convicted Gallagher in his absence and issued a warrant for his arrest after confirming that his immigration records showed he was "overseas".

At the time of the alleged assault, Gallagher, who is originally from Burtonport in Donegal, was held in police custody overnight before being granted bail.

He was not subject to any bail requirement to regularly check in with police or surrender his passport, despite the fact that his work on yachts meant he frequently travelled internationally.

The charges against him included assault occasioning actual bodily harm, common assault, and intentionally choking another person without her consent.

Cameron, 30, met Gallagher while appearing on Below Deck Mediterranean. The pair went on to date for a year and share a son.

Sydney police arrested Gallagher on December 27 over the alleged assault, which is said to have occurred on St Stephen's Day.

He has previously pleaded not guilty to all three charges.