A man accused of damaging two paintings at the Shelbourne hotel told gardai after his arrest that he had been at the premises to visit the hotel spa.

Andrew Shannon (50) of Willians Way, Ongar, Dublin 15 has pleaded not guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to damaging the two paintings – 'Morning Strand' and 'Evening Strand' - by Felim Egan, at the Shelbourne hotel on January 8th, 2014.

Mr Shannon has further pleaded not guilty to damaging one Claude Monet painting entitled Argenteuil Basin with a Single Sail Boat (1874) at the National Gallery of Ireland on Clare Street on June 29, 2012.

Garda Eugene McCarthy told Kerida Naidoo BL, prosecuting, that he was present when gardai interviewed Mr Shannon on two occasions on January 31, 2014.

Mr Shannon told gardai that he was only there with his nephew to visit the hotel spa and had not caused any damage to the painting. He told gardai to check with staff and said they were trying to get a “false confession.”

Gardai put it to him that his explanation was not reasonable and he replied that it was. He asked gardai what the CCTV footage showed.

He told gardai that they had been looking for the spa and had spoken to a member of staff.

Gda McCarthy agreed with Michael Bowman BL, defending, that prior to Mr Shannon saying he had contact with that staff member gardai had been unaware there had been any interaction. He said the woman did not recall meeting Mr Shannon.

He agreed that not all staff members in the hotel who had been working on the 8th were spoken to.

The trial continues before Judge Martin Nolan and jury of seven women and five men.