A man accused of punching a hole in a valuable Monet oil painting at the National Gallery in Dublin in June will deny criminal responsibility for the damage, a judge was told yesterday.
Andrew Shannon (47), Willans Way, Ongar, Co Dublin, is charged with criminal damage on June 29th. Gardaí arrested him after damage was inflicted to Claude Monet’s Argenteuil Basin with a Single Sailboat.
At Cloverhill District Court yesterday, Mr Shannon’s solicitor Áine Flynn told Judge John Lindsay that her client was applying for bail. However Det Garda Conor Ó Braonáin objected, citing the seriousness of the offence.
The DPP has directed trial on indictment, meaning the case will go before a judge and jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Judge Lindsay refused bail and further remanded Mr Shannon in custody to appear again in two weeks pending the preparation of a book of evidence in the case.