The trial at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court has begun of a man accused of knocking a hole through a Claude Monet oil painting at the National Gallery of Ireland, causing €7 million worth of criminal damage.
Andrew Shannon is accused of putting his hand through Ireland's only painting by the famous French impressionist, entitled Argenteuil Basin with a Single Sailboat.
The painting dates from 1874 and is valued at about €10 million.
Mr Shannon (48), Willans Way, Ongar, Dublin, told two tourists who witnessed the incident that he had “felt faint” and collapsed on to the painting.
He pleaded not guilty to causing criminal damage on June 29th, 2012. The court heard Mr Shannon worked as a French polisher with Foyle Antiques, which had now closed.
CCTV footage
Kerida Naidoo, prosecuting, said Mr Shannon was captured on CCTV footage entering and leaving the room in the Millennium Unit of the National Gallery where the painting was hanging. He said the two witnesses who had been on holidaying had travelled from New Zealand to give evidence. Mr Naidoo said the incident happened at about 11am and that gardaí and an ambulance arrived within 15 minutes.
He said Mr Shannon had told a number of people, including the two tourists, that he had fallen or in some way collapsed against the painting.
He said the jury would hear that Mr Shannon’s pulse was taken, he was given oxygen and was described as having a “sweaty forehead”. However, after a short while the medics decided his condition was not a cause for concern.
Taken to hospital
Brendan Grehan SC, defending, said Mr Shannon accepted that the damage to the painting was caused by his hand coming into contact with it. He said his client had a history of heart problems and was taken to hospital by ambulance after the incident.
Mr Shannon was then driven to a Garda station where he was seen by three doctors over 12 hours while in custody.
He was brought back to hospital a second time the following morning.
The trial continues tomorrow before Judge Desmond Hogan and a jury of seven women and five men.
It is expected to last five days.