The trial at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court has begun of a man accused of knocking a hole through a Claude Monet oil painting at the National Gallery of Ireland, causing €7 million worth of criminal damage, The Irish Times reported.

Andrew Shannon is accused of putting his hand through Ireland’s only painting by the famous French impressionist, entitled Argenteuil Basin with a Single Sailboat.

The painting dates from 1874 and is valued at about €10 million.

Shannon (48), Willans Way, Ongar, Dublin, told two tourists who witnessed the incident that he had “felt faint” and collapsed on to the painting.

He pleaded not guilty to causing criminal damage on June 29, 2012. The court heard Shannon worked as a French polisher with Foyle Antiques, which had now closed.