Simon Harris continues to back Fine Gael candidate John McGahon as he fires dig at Sinn Fein

Taoiseach Simon Harris has continued to back Fine Gael election candidate John McGahon as he criticised Sinn Féin for having a “press officer in prison for being a paedophile”.

However, the Fine Gael leader also conceded that the altercation involving Mr McGahon was not a “scuffle”, as he previously described it.

Over the weekend, the Sunday Times published pictures of injuries allegedly suffered by a farmer, Breen White, during a late-night altercation with Mr McGahon outside a Louth pub.

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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.

Mr McGahon, who was elected to the Seanad after the incident, denied the claims and said he was assaulted and acted in self-defence.

Mr Harris faced extensive questioning on Mr McGahon on his way into the RTÉ leaders' debate on Monday evening.

He admitted that he had not seen the video of the assault when he described the altercation as a “scuffle” in July.

“Had I seen the video, I don't think I would have used that word at all,” he said.

On her way into the 10-leader debate, Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald said that when issues arose in her party, she “had a lot to handle, and it got handled,” adding that Mr McGahon would not be allowed to run for her party.

When this was put to Mr Harris, he responded: “Her press officer is in prison tonight for being a paedophile.

“John McGahon was found not guilty by a criminal court.”

Michael McMonagle, a former Sinn Féin press officer, was jailed for 18 months, nine of which are to be spent in prison, after pleading guilty to child sex offences.

He was suspended from Sinn Féin in August 2021. Two other press officers resigned from the party this September after it emerged they provided references to McMonagle for a job at the British Heart Foundation.

Mr Harris continued to reiterate that Mr McGahon had been found not guilty of assault during a criminal trial. He said the jury in that trial had seen all photographs and videos.

In July, a High Court civil jury awarded Mr White €39,000 following the alleged assault. The jury was asked to decide if Mr White was assaulted and whether any damage suffered by him was caused or partly caused by want of care on his part

The jury, after just under four hours, found he had been assaulted, awarded a total of €60,000, including €10,000 for aggravated damages, and apportioned blame at 65 per cent against Mr McGahon and 35 per cent against Mr White. Mr Justice Alexander Owens, who presided over the four-day trial, gave a decree for €39,000 against Mr McGahon.

A separate criminal trial found Mr McGahon not guilty of assault.

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