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John McGahon and the ‘vicious’ Dundalk fight that has caused people to question his candidacy

A widely circulated video shows the Fine Gael candidate striking Breen White several times in the head

Fine Gael election candidate John McGahon was not available for comment on Monday. Photograph: Collins Courts
Fine Gael election candidate John McGahon was not available for comment on Monday. Photograph: Collins Courts
Harry McGee's picture
Harry McGee
Mon Nov 18 2024 - 18:26

It was close to 2.30am on June 15th, 2018, when Breen White first encountered John McGahon.

White (55), a farmer from Castleblayney, Co Monaghan, owned a horse, Total Demolition, that had won a race at Fairyhouse that day. He and his wife Linda were celebrating the win at the Rum House pub in the centre of Dundalk.

As they were leaving the pub to go home, a man whom White did not know put his arm around his wife and said “you are coming with me”. White intervened and said that it was his wife.

The man was McGahon, then 28 years old, and a Fine Gael councillor on Louth County Council. After departing the pub, White said McGahon approached them as they waited for a lift home and words were exchanged. White alleged that McGahon also said: “I run this town and you should know me.” McGahon denied saying that, adding it was the “oldest cliche” in the book. He also claimed he offered his hand in friendship but White had declined it. McGahon did agree that he was drunk and had an “unhealthy relationship” with alcohol at that time and also agreed that he started “making a nuisance” of himself.

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What ensued was a serious altercation, which started off with some pushing but ended up on the ground. A bystander videoed the incident, which has been widely shared on social media. It shows both men wrestling on the pavement. McGahon punches White in the head a number of times before being pulled off by two friends. A photograph taken of White the next day shows him with a closed left eye and visible bruising on his nose, cheek and temple.

The incident was investigated by An Garda Síochána. McGahon was charged with assault causing harm but when the case eventually came to court in May 2022, he was acquitted by the jury on a majority verdict. In a statement, Fine Gael said McGahon has “always maintained his innocence and a jury has found him not guilty. This matter has now concluded.”

But it was not concluded. White took a civil action against McGahon. Earlier this year, a High Court jury ordered McGahon to pay €39,000 to White, apportioning blame of 65 per cent against him, and 35 per cent against White. That has proved the basis for other parties questioning his suitability as a candidate.

Fine Gael was aware of the incident from soon after it occurred. White contacted the then party general secretary, Tom Curran, and sent him photographs. He also contacted former Co Louth senator Jim D’Arcy.

McGahon also admitted in an interview with the late Michael Reade on LMFM that he was involved in a tasteless prank at a music festival in 2010. He blamed both incidents to his relationship with alcohol. McGahon stood for the Dáil in 2020 but failed to win a seat. He was subsequently elected to Seanad Éireann.

White’s background was also complex. In the same year as the assault, the Criminal Assets Bureau ordered him to pay €500,000 following an investigation into a cigarette-smuggling enterprise in the Border area.

At the time of the civil judgment, Fine Gael issued no statement but party sources said McGahon might be subject to a disciplinary process. Nonetheless, his candidacy was confirmed for the general election. On Monday, Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald said what happened was “deeply disturbing” and not a scuffle as was claimed by Taoiseach Simon Harris. Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin said on Monday the incident was “vicious” and Fianna Fáil would not have run him as a candidate. Nonetheless, senior Fine Gael figures have continued to back him.

McGahon was not available for comment on Monday. As the deadline for nominations has now closed, he remains as one of his party’s two candidates in Louth.