Taoiseach Simon Harris stands by Fine Gael candidate John McGahon amid questions over candidacy
It comes following the publication of photographs in the Sunday Times of injuries allegedly suffered by a farmer during a late-night incident with Mr McGahon outside a Louth pub
Fine Gael leader Simon Harris has said his party will continue to support outgoing senator John McGahon’s general election candidacy.
It comes following the publication of photographs in the Sunday Times of injuries allegedly suffered by a farmer, Breen White, during a late-night altercation with Mr McGahon outside a Louth pub.
Farmer Breen White, from Castleblaney, Co Monaghan, sued Mr McGahon for assault and battery outside the Rum House pub in Dundalk, Co Louth, on June 16, 2018. Mr McGahon, who was elected to the Seanad after the incident, denied the claims and said he was assaulted and acted in self-defence.
In July, a High Court civil jury awarded a man €39,000 following the alleged assault. The jury was asked to decide if Mr White was assaulted and whether any damage suffered by him was caused or partly caused by want of care on his part.
The jury, after just under four hours, found he had been assaulted, awarded a total of €60,000, including €10,000 for aggravated damages, and apportioned blame at 65 per cent against Mr McGahon and 35 per cent against Mr White. Mr Justice Alexander Owens, who presided over the four-day trial, gave a decree for €39,000 against Mr McGahon.
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In 2022, Mr McGahon, Faughart Gardens, Dundalk, was cleared by a Circuit Court criminal jury on a charge of assault causing harm to Mr White over the incident.
In recent days, a video began to circulate online purporting to be related to the incident. Mr Breen also provided photographs to the Sunday Times this weekend, which he suggested showed injuries obtained during the incident. Asked whether he was happy with Mr McGahon running for election during the Fine Gael manifesto launch, Mr Harris said the party would support him.“In relation to Senator McGahon, yes, my party will continue to canvass for him,” the Taoiseach said.
“These matters were all examined in a court of law. A jury sat in Louth. A jury looked at the CCTV. A jury looked at images. Defence was put forward, a defence of self-defence was put forward. A jury found him not guilty.”
The Irish Mirror contacted Mr McGahon for comment on Sunday afternoon.
Elsewhere, the Taoiseach was forced to deny that he declined to take on Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald in a debate. Ms McDonald tweeted on Saturday evening that “Simon Harris is refusing to take part in the proposed Today FM/Sky News Leaders debate”.
“He won’t have this debate with me. He is hiding from answering for Fine Gael's disastrous performance in government over 14 years,” she added.
Fine Gael has denied that it received the invitation. Mr Harris said on Sunday that he will participate in other debates but questioned why Sinn Féin would not publish its manifesto before the 10-leader debate on RTÉ’s Upfront with Katie Hannon on Monday. Sinn Féin intends to publish its manifesto on Tuesday.
“It is an interesting position that Mary Lou McDonald thinks everyone in the country is afraid of debating her,” he continued.
“I have a number of questions I want to talk to Mary Lou McDonald about. I look forward to that. It would be easier and more productive to debate her if she published her manifesto. I think it is a little bit cynical that she is going to publish her manifesto the day after the first leaders debate.
“She’ll be able to stand on the stage and say, ‘We’ll deal with that in our manifesto.’ “My challenge to the leader of Sinn Féin is, publish your manifesto before I see you [on Monday] night in RTÉ so we can have a real and meaningful debate on your costed proposals and your visions for this country.”
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