Harris and McDonald face scrutiny over handling of party controversies in debate

Taoiseach Simon Harris and Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald some faced scrutiny implicit their handling of controversies involving enactment colleagues during the televised General Election debate.

Fine Gael person Mr Harris told RTE big Katie Hannon helium would not person utilized the connection “scuffle” to picture a 2018 altercation involving his present enactment campaigner successful Co Louth John McGahon if helium had archetypal seen video footage that has emerged of the incident.

Mr McGahon, a Fine Gael senator, was recovered not blameworthy of assaulting a antheral extracurricular a Dundalk nightclub successful a transgression lawsuit 2 years agone but a High Court civilian enactment earlier this twelvemonth recovered him liable, with Mr McGahon ordered to wage damages.

Ms Hannon asked Mr Harris if helium had seen the video earlier helium utilized the connection scuffle.

“No, I hadn’t,” helium replied.

He is simply a democratically selected candidate, and helium has not been convicted of a transgression charge

Simon Harris

“And, of course, if I had Katie, I wouldn’t person utilized that operation astatine all.”

Asked if helium had backed Mr McGahon without seeing the evidence, helium added: “I had backed him connected the ground of what had happened successful a court. It is important to accidental this due to the fact that there’s been a batch of accusations thrown present today. If John McGahon had been criminally convicted successful a tribunal successful this country, helium would not beryllium a campaigner for my party. Not definite each different person connected this signifier tin accidental that astir their ain party, but that is the presumption successful narration to my party.

“This was an contented that was afloat litigated and examined successful a court, a Garda investigation, a assemblage of his peers looked astatine each of the evidence, each of the CCTV, each of the footage, heard from each of the witnesses, and they recovered him not guilty.”

When it was enactment to Mr Harris that Mr McGahon had been recovered 65% liable successful the civilian lawsuit and ordered to wage 39,000 euros successful damages, Mr Harris added: “And helium was rightly punished successful narration to having to wage that fine. And that is appropriate.”

However, helium noted that Fine Gael members successful Co Louth had democratically elected him arsenic the campaigner successful the predetermination and it was up to the electorate to determine if helium should go a TD.

“He is simply a democratically selected candidate, and helium has not been convicted of a transgression charge,” helium added.

If that occurred wrong my party, I would instrumentality a decisive action, and determination would beryllium consequences

Mary Lou McDonald

Ms McDonald had been asked astir the contention arsenic she arrived for the debate.

“All I tin archer you is this, if that occurred wrong my party, I would instrumentality a decisive action, and determination would beryllium consequences, and Senator McGahon would not beryllium connected the wide predetermination ticket,” she told reporters outside.

When the statement got nether way, the Sinn Fein person was past pressed connected her ain handling of respective controversies involving her party, including those of erstwhile enactment property serviceman Michael McMonagle and ex-Sinn Fein legislator Niall O Donnghaile.

McMonagle, 43, from Limewood Street, Londonderry, was jailed earlier this period aft admitting a fig of kid enactment offences.

Last month, erstwhile Sinn Fein legislator Mr O Donnghaile revealed helium had near the enactment past twelvemonth aft sending allegedly inappropriate substance messages to a teenager.

Ms McDonald insisted she dealt with the assorted issues “speedily and resolutely”.

“And successful each lawsuit wherever determination was atrocious behaviour, mediocre behaviour dropped beneath standards, determination was afloat accountability and determination were precise superior consequences,” she added.

“I deliberation radical would observe a opposition betwixt my approach, which has been astir accountability and consequences, and different scenarios wherever it seems wrongdoing is ignored and, successful fact, successful galore cases, wrongdoers are promoted.”

Mr Harris insisted the constabulary had handled galore of the issues related to Sinn Fein, not Ms McDonald.

“And a young antheral (who Mr O Donnghaile messaged) successful an interrogation with the Sunday Independent said your effect to the contented resulted successful him feeling similar helium had been mentally stabbed. So don’t rewrite history. It wasn’t that agelong ago. Mentally stabbed,” helium said.

Repeating the operation “mentally stabbed” a further 4 times, Mr Harris said to Ms McDonald: “That was your actions and each parent and begetter astatine location should cognize that that was your leadership.”