Simon Harris ‘not sure’ whether he will allow John McGahon to join canvass team

The Fine Gael leader said he is “not sure” whether he will allow party colleague John McGahon to canvass with him in Co Louth.

Simon Harris said he needs to reflect on having John McGahon with his canvass team if he visits in the county ahead of Friday’s election.

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.

It is not clear whether Mr Harris will visit the Co Louth consistency in the coming days.

Asked if he will allow Mr McGahon to join the Fine Gael canvass team, Mr Harris said: “I’m not sure is the honest answer. John McGahon is a duly selected Fine Gael candidate. He’s on the ticket, as is councillor Paula Butterly, and it’s up to the people of Louth to decide if they wish to vote Fine Gael which candidate to support.

“I’ve made it very clear my view in relation to violence and I’d need to reflect on that. So I’m not sure is the honest answer.”

Asked if he would ask tell Mr McGahon to leave if he appeared, Mr Harris said: “No, we are not in that space at all.”

The Fine Gael leader later said that there would be a need for the party “to reflect further” on its code of conduct.

He said: “I certainly think it was utterly inappropriate behaviour, I’m very clear in relation to that.”

Earlier this week, Mr Harris was asked if voters in Louth should vote for Mr McGahon.

He said he understood why people were “horrified” over a video of the incident, adding he was “very angry” about the matter.

“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,” he added.