Courts / Clare / Report

Monet basher appeals conviction over stolen painting

Date
2019-05-16

Stage
Appeal

Primary locality
Shannon

County
Clare

Summary

Andrew Shannon, 54, was convicted on 31 January 2014 for handling a stolen Frederick Goodall oil painting, valued at about €5,000, found in his Dublin home. The painting, a 1892 desert scene, had been stolen from Bantry House, Cork, in March 2006. A two‑day trial in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court led to a two‑year sentence imposed by Judge Patricia Ryan in November 2014. Shannon appealed today, arguing that evidence obtained during his 2006 arrest for suspected theft of John Speed maps from Tinakilly House was improperly used to convict him of handling the Goodall painting. His barrister, Marc Thompson BL, contended that Gardaí should have formally questioned him about Bantry House as a suspect, not while interrogating him on unrelated matters, and that the 2006 information was "fishing" for evidence. The Court of Appeal, presided over by Justice George Birmingham, will reserve judgment.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Monet basher appeals conviction over stolen painting. Charges or matters: handling a stolen Frederick Goodall piece at his home address at Willians 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
June 29, 2012 Other
December 2014 Hearing Or Sentence
2019-05-16 Publication

Case subjects

Andrew Shannon

Appellant

Charges: handling a stolen Frederick Goodall piece at his home address at Willians 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; Credit: Collins) A man previously jailed for damaging a €10 million Monet painting must wait to hear the outcome of an appeal against his conviction for handling another artwork stolen from a stately home. 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.