Courts / Clare / Report

Man jailed for damaging €10 million Monet painting moves to appeal conviction

Date
2015-12-18

Stage
Appeal

Primary locality
Shannon

County
Clare

Summary

Andrew Shannon, aged 50, was convicted of damaging Claude Monet's painting 'Argentuil Basin with a Single Sail Boat (1874)' at the National Gallery of Ireland on 29 June 2012. He had previously been found not guilty of damaging two paintings at the Shelbourne Hotel on 8 January 2014. In the National Gallery case, a jury found him guilty and Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to six years' imprisonment, with the final 15 months suspended, on 4 December 2014. Shannon has now moved to appeal the conviction, arguing that the trial judge erred by failing to sever the indictment and by allowing the prosecution to merge the two separate incidents. His counsel, Michael Bowman SC, contended that the prosecution's strategy of linking the two cases compromised a fair trial. The Director of Public Prosecutions' counsel, Kerida Naidoo SC, countered that the jury was instructed to treat the cases separately and that evidence supported the conviction.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Man jailed for damaging €10 million Monet painting moves to appeal conviction. Charges or matters: damaging the Claude Monet painting entitled 'Argentuil Basin with a Single Sail Boat (1874)' at the National Gallery of Ireland on Clare Street on June 29, 2012; the National Gallery incident by a jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Procedural stage: appeal. Findings: Acquitted

When:

June 29, 2012 Incident
January 8, 2014 Incident
December 4 2014 Incident
2015-12-18 Publication

Why: They were taking the mindset and motive from the first incident to allegedly prove that Shannon had "something against paintings" and "liked to put holes in paintings", Mr Bowman said. CNI source report

Case subjects

Andrew Shannon

Appellant

Charges: damaging the Claude Monet painting entitled 'Argentuil Basin with a Single Sail Boat (1874)' at the National Gallery of Ireland on Clare Street on June 29, 2012; the National Gallery incident by a jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court (Alleged Or Contested)

Plea: Not guilty

Finding: Acquitted

Outcome: Acquitted; Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to six years imprisonment with the final 15 months suspended on December 4 2014.