A Dublin man accused of punching a hole in a valuable Monet oil-painting is due to stand trial today.
Andrew Shannon of Willans Way, Ongar was arrested after the piece of art was damaged at the National Gallery last June.
The painting was part of a special presentation called Masterpieces and it was the only piece in the museum's collection by the great French Impressionist painter Claude Monet.
It was given to the National Gallery in 1924 and it's believed to be insured for €7m.
To the curator's horror, a hole was spotted in the piece just before noon on June 29th 2012.
Sometime later, Andrew Shannon was arrested and charged with causing criminal damage to the 19th century oil canvas.
During a previous court appearance, Gardai said it will be alleged that Mr. Shannon lunged at the painting with a raised fist and punched it, a charge denied by the 48-year-old.
The extent of the damage and the cost of restoring the piece will also be laid bare when the trial gets underway before Judge Patricia Ryan this afternoon.
