Courts / Dublin / Report

Serial art offender Shannon has second thoughts about representing himself

Date
2019-03-22

Stage
Appeal

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

Andrew Shannon, 54, was convicted on 31 January 2014 of handling a stolen Frederick Goodall oil painting, a 1892 desert scene taken from Bantry House in Cork in March 2006. Gardaí discovered the painting, valued at about €5,000, during a 2014 search of his home on unrelated grounds. A jury found him guilty after a two‑day trial, and Judge Patricia Ryan sentenced him to two years' imprisonment in November 2014. He was due to appeal the conviction today but had dismissed his solicitor and intended to represent himself. Judge George Birmingham warned him that the Court of Appeal, a three‑judge panel, was unconvinced he could do justice alone and urged him to secure counsel. The case was scheduled for hearing on 16 May. Shannon has 51 prior convictions, including theft, burglary and handling stolen property, and was previously jailed for damaging a Monet painting at the National Gallery of Ireland in 2012.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Serial art offender Shannon has second thoughts about representing himself. Charges or matters: handling a stolen Frederick Goodall piece at his home address at Willans Way, Ongar, Clonsilla, Dublin 15 on January 31, 2014; damaging the Monet by a jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and sentenced to six years imprisonment with the final 18 months suspended by Judge Martin Nolan in December 2014. Procedural stage: appeal. Findings: Found guilty

When:

January 31, 2014 Hearing Or Sentence
May 16 Incident
June 29, 2012 Other
December 2014 Hearing Or Sentence
2019-03-22 Publication

Case subjects

Andrew Shannon

Appellant

Charges: handling a stolen Frederick Goodall piece at his home address at Willans Way, Ongar, Clonsilla, Dublin 15 on January 31, 2014; damaging the Monet by a jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and sentenced to six years imprisonment with the final 18 months suspended by Judge Martin Nolan in December 2014 (Proven)

Finding: Found guilty

Outcome: Found guilty; Shannon was found guilty by a jury following a two-day trial and sentenced to two years imprisonment by Judge Patricia Ryan last November. He was found guilty of damaging the Monet by a jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and sentenced to six years imprisonment with the final 18 months suspended by Judge Martin Nolan in December 2014.