Taoiseach happy for senator to seek FG nomination despite award against him for assault

Last week, the High Court awarded farmer Breen White €39,000 against Senator John McGahon over a late-night assault outside a pub in Dundalk in 2018

During a four-day trial which concluded last week, Senator John McGahon said he was intoxicated at the time of the incident and admitted to having an 'unhealthy relationship' with alcohol for which he has since sought counselling. File photo: Collins Courts

Taoiseach Simon Harris has said that he is happy for Senator John McGahon to seek the Fine Gael nomination in Louth.

Mr Harris said he will not oppose the senator's bid for a nomination after the High Court awarded farmer Breen White €39,000 against Mr McGahon over a late-night assault outside a pub in Dundalk in 2018.

During a trial around the same incident, a Circuit Court jury found Mr McGahon not guilty on a charge of assault causing harm to Mr White.

Mr Harris is "satisfied that he is remorseful" and has been given an assurance that nothing of that nature will happen again. Mr McGahon will need to continue to show that remorse through his actions and must work hard every day for the people, Mr Harris said.

What occurred on the night of June 16, 2018 — before Mr McGahon was elected to office — was "unacceptable" to the Fine Gael leader but he said it would be up to the Fine Gael members in Louth to decide whether or not they believe him to be suitable for nomination.

When it was put to Mr Harris that this was not the first instance in which Mr McGahon's behaviour has been brought into question, the Taoiseach emphasised that the Louth man has never been found guilty of any criminal offences.

If he, or any public representative, had been found guilty of a criminal charge then "that would be a very, very different matter".

"Some of these things happened in the past. He has been an extraordinarily hard-working member of Seanad Éireann," said Mr Harris.

"As a young politician, I think he is making a positive contribution to his constituency and I have made it very clear to John that we can never, ever, ever see a repeat of such behaviour and he has assured me."

During the four-day trial which concluded last week, Mr McGahon said he was intoxicated at the time of the incident and admitted to having an "unhealthy relationship" with alcohol for which he has since sought counselling. 

Mr McGahon denied the claims that he had assaulted Mr White and said he had been acting in self-defence. The jury found that Mr White had been assaulted and awarded a total of €60,000, including €10,000 for aggravated damages, and apportioned blame at 65% against Mr McGahon.