A Dublin man accused of damaging two paintings at the Shelbourne hotel earlier this year has been acquitted of those charges, by direction of the trial judge.

50-year-old Andrew Shannon of Willians Way, Ongar had pleaded NOT guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to damaging the two paintings – 'Morning Strand' and 'Evening Strand' - by Felim Egan, at the hotel on January 8th, 2014.

Mr Shannon has further pleaded NOT guilty to damaging one Claude Monet painting at the National Gallery of Ireland on Clare Street on June 29th, 2012.

That case is into its closing stages.