Paschal Donohoe has described it as “extremely regrettable” that a Fine Gael candidate was found civilly liable for attacking a man.
In 2022, Senator John McGahon was found not guilty in a criminal trial of attacking Breen White outside a pub in County Louth.
Mr White later sued in a civil trial for assault and battery and the High Court found Senator McGahon 65% liable for damages.
He was ordered to pay Mr White €39,000 in damages.
Speaking on Let Me Explain with Seán Defoe, Tánaiste Micheál Martin said he had a “real problem” that Senator McGahon is standing for election.
"I think the nature of the attack seems to have been very aggressive to say the least," he said.
"The injuries are shocking and I think people can see, unfortunately online, the nature of the attack."
On Newstalk Breakfast, Minister for Public Expenditure Paschal Donohoe defended Fine Gael’s decision to select Senator McGahon as their candidate in Louth.
“There was a criminal trial in relation to this,” he said.
“John McGahon was not found guilty in that criminal trial.
“I then have to look at the engagement that I’ve had with him where in the aftermath of that criminal trial, I found [him to be] somebody that works very hard and as a politician has put his name in front of the people of Louth.”
Despite this, Minister Donohoe did not deny that Mr White was attacked by Senator McGahon and described the incident as “extremely regrettable”.
“John has paid, I understand, a significant fine in relation to that - which he should,” he said.
“I think any act of violence, any incident like this, I obviously find extremely regrettable and... it’s one, of course, I have to acknowledge.”
What a Saturday across Dundalk!
Huge thank you to Cllr. Robert Nash, Cllr. John Reilly and our team of volunteers who gave up their Saturday to knock doors!
Hugely appreciative of the great team we have, it’s full of youth and energy and it’s a real pleasure to be a part of it pic.twitter.com/sdW0hIybTf
— Senator John McGahon (@John_McGahon) September 22, 2024
He defended Fine Gael’s decision to run Senator McGahon as a candidate on the grounds that he “works very hard” and has paid his fine for the attack.
“In situations like this, I do have to go back to what is the process in relation to it,” he said.
“It is still not for me to second guess the outcome of a criminal trial.
“He was acquitted, he’s since paid a large fine for it - which he should do.
“From the engagement that I’ve had with John over recent years, I’ve found somebody that works very hard at his job that will be making his case to his constituents.”
Polling day will take place on November 29th.
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Main images shows Paschal Donohoe. Picture by: Newstalk
