Simon Harris backs John McGahon in Louth amid renewed scrutiny

By Cillian Sherlock, PA

Simon Harris has defended Fine Gael’s decision not to pursue internal disciplinary procedures against election candidate John McGahon, after he was found civilly liable for an assault.

Mr McGahon, who is standing for election in Louth, was found not guilty of assaulting a man outside a Dundalk nightclub in a criminal case two years ago, but a High Court civil action found him liable earlier this year.

Speaking on Wednesday, Mr Harris said Mr McGahon would not be representing the party if he had received a criminal conviction, adding, in an apparent reference to Sinn Féin, that this was not a standard observed by other parties.

He said: “A jury and a judge [in the criminal case] saw all of the evidence, and nobody else, and they decided that he was not guilty of assault.

“It’s very clear, had he been guilty of assault, John McGahon would not be a candidate for my party.

“Not every leader in Dáil Éireann can say that there are other parties who are running people with criminal convictions, my party is not.”

Asked while canvassing in Naas, Co Kildare, why Fine Gael did not discipline Mr McGahon after the civil trial, he said: “Because that was the disciplinary action.

“Because I believe, unlike other parties, that the courts of this country trump internal processes.”

Mr Harris said a criminal and civil court examined the matter in “the full glare of the media”.

“John McGahon was fined many thousands of euro. John McGahon then put his name forward democratically to be selected by members, has been selected, and now the people of Louth in just over eight days' time can decide who they wish to represent them in the Dáil.”

Mr Harris said Fine Gael hopes to “retain Dáil representation” in Louth, where it is running two candidates, Mr McGahon and Paula Butterly.

Asked if he was explicitly asking people to vote for Mr McGahon, Mr Harris said: “Yes, I’m asking people to support Fine Gael candidates right across the country.”

Pressed on whether he would canvass with Mr McGahon, the Taoiseach said his schedule was yet to be finalised.