Missing antique books identified by distinctive crest on spines

Valuable antique books which went missing during restoration of Carton House were identified due to the distinctive Fitzgerald family crest printed on their spines, a trial heard.

Andrew Shannon, aged 51, has gone on trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court accused of unlawfully possessing 67 of the books after they were allegedly found during a search of his home.

The books, including a 1660 edition of the King James Bible, of which only six exist, went missing after being put in storage during restoration of the Kildare country house.