Below Deck Star Convicted in Absentia and Wanted After Fleeing Australia

A Reality Star on the Run

An arrest warrant for Below Deck Mediterranean star Nathan Gallagher has been issued by Australian police after he missed a scheduled court appearance for an earlier charge. The 28-year-old Irish deckhand-turned-bosun, who rose to fame on Bravo's popular yachting series, now finds himself at the center of a serious legal crisis — one that spans two countries and involves multiple assault allegations.

On Tuesday, September 1, New South Wales Police announced on social media that Gallagher is wanted on an outstanding warrant in Sydney as authorities are attempting to locate him. He is "believed to be offshore" and is "known to frequent the Ermington and Melrose Park areas," according to authorities, who describe him as being of Caucasian appearance, about 5'4" with a medium build. Gallagher deactivated his Instagram account amid the news.

The Charges and What Happened in Court

Officers first arrested Gallagher in Melrose Park around 8:45 a.m. on December 27, 2025, after a 29-year-old woman reported an assault the day before. He was charged with three offenses, including assault occasioning actual bodily harm, intentionally choking a person without consent, and common assault. He initially refused bail before appearing in Bail Division Court 7 on December 28, where he was granted conditional bail, and was ordered to appear at Burwood Local Court on January 15, 2026.

Gallagher was convicted on charges of assault and choking on Tuesday after he failed to appear for his hearing in an Australian court. The alleged victim attended court to provide evidence, supported by friends, and Judge Janine Lacy ultimately convicted Gallagher in his absence. The judge attributed her decision to issue the warrant and convict Gallagher to "the serious nature of the offenses," as well as records revealing that Gallagher had left the country and is "currently overseas."

A Second Warrant — This Time in Ireland

In addition to the warrant issued from Australia, Gallagher is also facing an assault charge from an incident that took place in 2022 in Ireland. There is a bench warrant for Gallagher stemming from his arrest after he was charged with assaulting another man in Dungloe on August 7, 2022, and the warrant was issued in 2025 after Gallagher failed to appear at the Dungloe District Court. The two legal situations are entirely separate, making Gallagher's circumstances all the more precarious.

While the alleged victim of the domestic incident was not identified, court records show Gallagher is also named in an Apprehended Violence Application filed on behalf of Gael Cameron, his former girlfriend and fellow Below Deck cast member, with whom he shares one-year-old son Kayden. Gallagher and Cameron both joined the Below Deck franchise during season nine in 2024, met on the show and formed a romantic connection during filming, and later rekindled their romance during season 10.

Gallagher's Public Response — and What Comes Next

Gallagher previously addressed his legal situation in a statement to Rolling Stone on August 26, saying that he has "made mistakes," while claiming he has "evidence" that provides additional context, and stating that "what has been publicly reported represents only one side of what was an extremely complicated situation." He also said his priority was his young son and finding a way to co-parent with Cameron.

Those words now ring hollow to many observers, given that he skipped his court date just days later. Being convicted in absentia — meaning a judge found him guilty without him even being present — is a significant legal outcome, and fleeing a country while on conditional bail only compounds his jeopardy. Those with information on his whereabouts are urged to contact Ryde Police Station or Crime Stoppers. With active warrants now on two continents, Gallagher's options are narrowing fast — and the legal walls are likely to keep closing in wherever he surfaces next.