Tánaiste ‘surprised’ over Fine Gael supporting John McGahon candidacy

By Cillian Sherlock, PA

The leader of Fianna Fáil has said he is “shocked” by video footage of Fine Gael candidate John McGahon engaged in an altercation in which another man was injured.

Micheál Martin said Mr McGahon would not be running in the election if he was a member of Fianna Fáil.

This comes after Taoiseach Simon Harris said Fine Gael will continue to canvass for Mr McGahon despite photos showing injuries the man suffered following an altercation with the Louth candidate in 2018.

Mr McGahon was found not guilty of assaulting Breen White outside a Dundalk nightclub in a criminal case two years ago, but a High Court civil action found him liable earlier this year, with Mr White awarded a sum of damages against Mr McGahon.

Photos were published in a Sunday newspaper showing the extent of the facial injuries suffered by Mr White.

Over the weekend, Mr Harris said his party will continue to back Mr McGahon: “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.

“A defence was put forward, a defence of self-defence was put forward, and a jury found him not guilty.”

Mr Martin said to reporters on Monday he did not want to be “too judgmental” but added: “It was a vicious attack and incident from what I saw on video.

“We all have to examine, reflect and be honest about it: If we were in the same situation, I don’t think he would be a candidate.”

Asked if it called Mr Harris’s judgement into question, Mr Martin said he was “surprised” but added that it was ultimately a matter for Fine Gael and voters in Louth.

He said: “I certainly was surprised by the decision to double down on his candidature given what we now know.”

Mr Martin said strikes to the head, as depicted in the video, can lead to bad consequences and that it was fortunate Mr White’s injuries were not worse.

“The injuries were very severe, there is a victim here and he feels he hasn’t been listened to.”

Asked about Mr Harris previously depicting the incident as a scuffle, Mr Martin said: “It was anything but a scuffle – I presume the Taoiseach hadn’t seen the video – it was quite vicious.”