A man on trial for allegedly putting his fist through a Monet painting accused gardaí of trying to get a false confession, a jury has heard.
Andrew Shannon of Willians Way, Ongar in Dublin denies causing criminal damage to the artwork at the National Gallery in June 2012.
Mr Shannon (49) is accused of putting his fist through Claude Monet's Argenteuil Basin with a Single Sail Boat at the National Gallery.
The 1874 painting has an estimated value of €10m.
He is also accused of causing criminal damage to two Felim Egan paintings in the Deirdre Suite of the Shelbourne Hotel on January 8th of this year.
Today the jury heard in garda interviews Mr Shannon said he had visited the hotel with his nephew that day in order to do a tour of the spa facilities.
When he was asked about CCTV footage showing him near the suite where the two paintings hung, he denied causing any damage - and at one point the court heard he accused gardaí of trying to get a false confession.
