Taoiseach Simon Harris dismisses comparisons between Fine Gael election candidate and Conor McGregor cases
A jury awarded Ms Hand more than €248,000 in damages following a civil case. The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) did not pursue her case for a criminal trial
Taoiseach Simon Harris has dismissed any comparisons between his backing of John McGahon following a civil case and his condemnation of Conor McGregor.
The MMA fighter was found liable by a civil jury for assaulting Nikita Hand, who accused him of rape in a Dublin hotel six years ago.
A jury awarded Ms Hand more than €248,000 in damages following a civil case. The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) did not pursue her case for a criminal trial.
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Mr Harris praised Ms Hand and spoke with the hair colourist over the weekend, stating that he wanted to “make sure that she knew how much solidarity and support there was across this country for her bravery”.
Mr McGahon, a Fine Gael candidate in Louth, was found not guilty of assault on farmer Breen White during a criminal trial.
Mr 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.
In July, a High Court civil jury awarded Mr White €39,000 following the alleged assault. It apportioned blame at 65 per cent against Mr McGahon and 35 per cent against Mr White.
At a press conference in Airfield, Dundrum, on Monday afternoon, the Taoiseach was questioned on his comments about the civil case involving Mr McGregor when his justification for Mr McGahon’s candidacy was the fact that he was found liable in a civil court but not guilty in a criminal case.
Mr Harris argued that the two situations were not comparable.
“Well, I'm actually struggling to dignify that with an answer,” he said.
“John McGahon’s behaviour was unacceptable. John McGahon was found not guilty of a criminal offence by a court.
“He was rightly punished by a civil court and made to pay many thousands of euro.
“It's now up to the people of Louth to decide in the round on his record whether they wish to support him or not.”
He continued: “I just really think these situations are not equivalent in any manner or means.
“Nikita Hand is an incredibly brave and courageous woman who has resulted in many more women coming forward and speaking up, speaking out and using their voice.
“But he [Senator McGahon] was fined because his behaviour was utterly inappropriate.
“I'm making the point to everybody that he's on the ballot. So is another Fine Gael candidate Paula Butterly.
“It’s up to people to decide who they wish to back in Louth on Friday.”
Speaking on Monday morning on RTÉ’s Today with Claire Byrne, Mr Harris refused to say whether he wanted Mr McGahon “on his team” following the election.
He stopped short of asking people to vote for Mr McGahon, once again stating that there are two candidates running in Louth for Fine Gael.
He added that he was “very angry about this situation” as he “absolutely abhors violence".
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