Gardaí have launched an investigation into an art scam which has seen dozens of Irish collectors conned out of thousands of euro.

The Oriel Gallery in Dublin is currently meeting with gardaí after it emerged paintings by the celebrated artist Markey Robinson were being replicated and sold for as much as €30,000 a piece.

Over 50 people flooded the gallery with authentication requests after the Sunday Tribune revealed the swindle last month – and the majority of the paintings were found to be fakes.

Gallery owner Mark Nulty believes now that a small group is doing copies of the paintings and selling them in auctions, with a fake stamp of his gallery printed on the back.

"They are turning up in auctions all over the country. They seem to use smaller auctioneers which don't place items on their website," says Nulty.

"We had no idea the scam was operating to such a scale. Anyone who has any doubts either before a purchase or after should go directly to their local auctioneer and have their paintings checked out."

Robinson, who died in 1999, has risen in status as one of the most popular Irish art investments.

"Markey's popularity over the years has gone from strength to strength along with his prices. During these tough times, Markey is still our best-selling artist," said Nulty.

Read the story below that was revealed by the Tribune on July the 5th 2009

Brush Stroke Buyers Duped In Art Scam