Fine Gael candidate not telling Louth voters to support John McGahon

By Cillian Sherlock, PA

Paula Butterly, a Fine Gael candidate in Co Louth, has said she is not telling voters to give their second preference to party colleague John McGahon.

Mr McGahon’s candidacy has been criticised by members of other parties.

He 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 earlier this year found him liable and he was ordered to pay damages.

On Monday, Fine Gael leader Simon Harris was asked if voters in Louth should vote for Mr McGahon.

Mr Harris said he understood why people were “horrified” over a video of the incident.

He added: “I’m very angry about this situation. I abhor violence.

“He went through a process, he was found not guilty. If he was found guilty it would be a very different situation.”

Mr Harris told RTE radio: “I want people in Louth to decide based on weighing up his record of service in the community, his time as a senator, and I think people will look at it in the round and then they will decide.”

Later, on RTE’s Drivetime, Ms Butterly said she was “naturally” asking the people of Louth to choose her first, but added there remained two Fine Gael candidates to choose from.

She said the incident involving Mr McGahon was coming up on the doors and that her team was managing it by asking constituents to vote for her.

She acknowledged that some posters said “Vote No 1 Paula Butterly and Vote No 2 John McGahon”.

However, she said her focus was on her own campaign.

Pressed on whether she was telling constituents to give their second preference to her running mate, Ms Butterly replied: “No.”

Asked if Mr McGahon should be on the ticket, she added: “I think John is entitled to look for the vote in four days time.”