Courts / Dublin / Report

Man accused of damaging paintings told gardai he had been at Shelbourne to visit the spa

Date
2014-12-01

Stage
Trial

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

Andrew Shannon, 50, of Dublin 15, was arrested for damaging two paintings at the Shelbourne hotel on 8 January 2014 and a Monet at the National Gallery in 2012. He pleaded not guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. During Garda interviews on 31 January 2014, Shannon claimed he was at the hotel spa with his nephew and had not harmed the artwork, suggesting staff were seeking a "false confession." Garda Eugene McCarthy noted Shannon's explanation was unreasonable. CCTV footage showed Shannon entering the Adams suite, which leads to the Deirdre suite where the paintings were, but no evidence placed him in the Deirdre suite. The case is pending before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury of twelve. Additional evidence includes a senior investigator's report and a surgeon's note that Shannon had severe heart disease, potentially causing a cardiac episode without external stress. The trial continues.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Man accused of damaging paintings told gardai he had been at Shelbourne to visit the spa. Charges or matters: damaging the two paintings – 'Morning Strand' and 'Evening Strand' – by Felim Egan, at the Shelbourne hotel on January 8th, 2014; damaging one Claude Monet painting entitled Argenteuil Basin with a Single Sail Boat (1874) at the National Gallery of Ireland on Clare Street on June 29, 2012. Procedural stage: trial

When:

January 8th, 2014 Hearing Or Sentence
June 29, 2012 Other
January 31, 2014 Other
January 15th Other
July 2013 Other
2014-12-01 Publication

Case subjects

Andrew Shannon

Defendant

Charges: damaging the two paintings – 'Morning Strand' and 'Evening Strand' – by Felim Egan, at the Shelbourne hotel on January 8th, 2014; damaging one Claude Monet painting entitled Argenteuil Basin with a Single Sail Boat (1874) at the National Gallery of Ireland on Clare Street on June 29, 2012 (Alleged Or Contested)

Plea: Not guilty