Courts / Clare / Report

Dublin man sentenced to six years for damaging €10 million Monet painting

Date
2014-12-04

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Shannon

County
Clare

Summary

Andrew Shannon, 49, of Willians Way, Ongar, was convicted of damaging Claude Monet's 1874 painting "Argenteuil Basin with a Single Sail Boat" at the National Gallery of Ireland. He pleaded not guilty but a jury found him guilty after 1½ hours of deliberation. The jury also found him not guilty of damaging two other paintings at the Shelbourne Hotel. Shannon has 48 prior convictions, including burglary and theft of antiques. He was sentenced to six years' imprisonment, with the final 15 months suspended under strict conditions, including a ban on entering any public gallery or building displaying paintings. The maximum penalty for the offence is ten years. The Monet painting has been restored and returned to display. Shannon's heart condition and prior custody time were considered in sentencing. The case was heard by Judge Martin Nolan.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Dublin man sentenced to six years for damaging €10 million Monet painting. Charges or matters: damaging the 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: sentence

When:

June 29, 2012 Hearing Or Sentence
November 2011 Incident
January 8th, 2014 Incident
July 2013 Other
2014-12-04 Publication

Case subjects

Andrew Shannon

Convicted Person

Charges: damaging the 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

Outcome: In November 2011 he was sentenced in Wicklow Circuit Court for handling stolen property involving maps dating from 1651 with a value of €6,000. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a sentence of six years and suspended the final 15 months on strict conditions including that Shannon not enter into a public painting gallery or any other institution or building where paintings are publicly displayed.