Ireland Case No. 26624Assault causing harm · Co. Louth · 16 Jun 2018
McGahon acquitted of assault causing harm in Dundalk
On 16 June 2018, John McGahon, 31, of Dundalk, was charged with assaulting Breen White, a man in his 50s, causing him harm outside The Rumhouse on Park Street, Dundalk, after a scuffle that began when McGahon put his arm around White's wife as they were leaving the pub. White was treated for superficial lacerations to his forehead and nose. McGahon pleaded not guilty at Dundalk Circuit Court, telling gardaí he had acted in self-defence. Following a four-day trial in May 2022, a jury found McGahon not guilty.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court24 May
5 reports - Acquitted27 May
4 reports - Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- The incident began when McGahon put his arm around Linda White as the couple were leaving The Rumhouse, leading to words and a scuffle outside.
- Breen White was treated for superficial lacerations to his forehead and the bridge of his nose.
- Where
- The incident occurred outside The Rumhouse on Park Street, Dundalk, Co Louth.
- When
- The incident occurred on 16 June 2018.
- Investigation
- Breen White made a formal statement of complaint to gardaí five days after the incident; a garda spoke to McGahon on the night but did not arrest him.
- Charges
- John McGahon, 31, of Faughart Gardens, Dundalk (St Mary's Road or St Patrick's Terrace), was charged with assaulting Breen White causing him harm on Park Street, Dundalk, on 16 June 2018.
- In court
- McGahon pleaded not guilty at Dundalk Circuit Court; the four-day trial in May 2022 was heard before a jury of four men and seven women after one member was taken ill.
- The jury failed to reach a unanimous verdict after more than 2.5 hours; Judge Dara Hayes accepted a majority verdict of at least 10 to 1.
- Sentence
- Following a further four hours of deliberations, the jury found McGahon not guilty.
- Other details
- McGahon told gardaí he had acted in self-defence.
- Breen White is suing McGahon in a civil action for damages.
- McGahon is a Fine Gael Senator.
106 statements extracted from the articles
- whatTwo men who seemed to know Mr McGahon approached and told him to leave the situation. (irishtimes.com)
- whatMr White put his hands up on his face and thought water was running down it but it was blood. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe injured party was given first aid at The Rumhouse and his son took him to hospital. (irishtimes.com)
- whatBreen White denied having a grip of McGahon by the neck (irishtimes.com)
- whatBreen White denied pulling the accused to the ground outside The Rumhouse (irishtimes.com)
- whatLinda White held her blazer over her head as it was drizzling when about to walk out of The Rumhouse (irishtimes.com)
- whatLinda White said McGahon stood in front of them and questioned her husband, asking who he was (irishtimes.com)
- whatLinda White said it was John who was coming for Breen all the time (irishtimes.com)
- whatCormac Rafferty said a scuffle broke out out of nowhere (irishtimes.com)
- whatCormac Rafferty said his father was lying on the ground being punched repeatedly on the head by McGahon while McGahon's friends tried to pull him off (irishtimes.com)
- whatCormac Rafferty acknowledged he had not seen what led up to the scuffle (irishtimes.com)
- whatMcGahon is on trial for assaulting Breen White causing him harm on Park Street, Dundalk on 16 June 2018. (thejournal.ie)
- whatBreen White claimed the accused had fallen as he was drunk. (thejournal.ie)
- whatLinda White held her blazer up over her head as it was drizzling when she felt someone coming around with their arm. (thejournal.ie)
- whatThe woman's husband took issue and the couple left the premises ahead of Mr McGahon (irishtimes.com)
- whatMore words were exchanged outside where all three had stood in for shelter (irishtimes.com)
- whatMr McGahon said Mr White was in his face and aggressive (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe complainant lunged at Mr McGahon, missed, and hit the ground (irishtimes.com)
- whatMr McGahon said he retaliated and hit Mr White with open-handed slaps (irishtimes.com)
- whatMr White told a doctor he had been assaulted by four people who had kicked and punched him in the face (irishtimes.com)
- whatMr White was treated for superficial cuts on his forehead and the bridge of his nose (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe defence argued the violence began when the complainant pushed Mr McGahon (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe defence said Mr White caught Mr McGahon by the throat and rammed his hand into his face (irishtimes.com)
- whatJohn McGahon pleaded not guilty to assaulting Breen White causing him harm (thejournal.ie)
- whatA Garda told the jury the accused was intoxicated but was not arrested (thejournal.ie)
- whatThe accused said Mr White lifted his leg towards him (thejournal.ie)
- whatThe accused said Mr White lunged at him, missed, and hit the ground (thejournal.ie)
- whatMr White told an ED doctor he was assaulted by four people who kicked and punched him in the face (thejournal.ie)
- whatMr White was treated for superficial lacerations on the forehead and bridge of his nose (thejournal.ie, rte.ie)
- whatMr White told a doctor he had been assaulted by four people who had kicked and punched him (irishtimes.com)
- whatMr White was treated for superficial lacerations to his forehead and nose (irishtimes.com)
- whatMcGahon said he offered an apology to the couple when Mr White took issue with his behaviour (irishtimes.com)
- whatMcGahon said Mr White was aggressive and lunged at him but missed and hit the ground (irishtimes.com)
- whatMcGahon said he ended up on the ground having retaliated and hit Mr White with open handed slaps (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe incident began when McGahon put his arm around Mr White's wife as they were leaving The Rumhouse. (rte.ie)
- whatMr White said he was on the ground getting knocks and bangs about the head. (rte.ie)
- whatMr White thought water was running down his face but it was blood. (rte.ie)
- whatMr White described the defendant as acting like a bully. (rte.ie)
- whatLinda White said the defendant had been shouldering and chesting her husband. (rte.ie)
- whatLinda White said three of McGahon's friends were pushing him back but he broke free. (rte.ie)
- whatCormac Rafferty saw his father lying on the ground being punched repeatedly on the head. (rte.ie)
- whatMr White told a doctor he had been assaulted by four people who kicked and punched him in the face. (rte.ie)
- whatA garda said the defendant had been intoxicated on the night but was not detained. (rte.ie)
- whatMcGahon said Mr White lunged at him but missed and hit the ground. (rte.ie)
- whereMr White was leaving The Rumhouse with his wife when the incident began. (irishtimes.com)
- whereCormac Rafferty parked across the street from The Rumhouse (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe incident occurred on Park Street, Dundalk, outside The Rumhouse (thejournal.ie)
- whereJohn McGahon lives at Faughart Gardens, St Mary's Road, Dundalk. (rte.ie)
- whereThe incident occurred outside The Rumhouse on Park Street, Dundalk (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- whenThe incident occurred on 16 June 2018 (thejournal.ie)
- whenThe trial lasted four days (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- investigationMr White made a formal statement of complaint to gardaí five days after the incident. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationA garda spoke to the defendant on Earl Street on the night of the incident (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe jury was shown CCTV footage from the night of the incident (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe jury was shown CCTV footage from the night. (rte.ie)
- investigationBreen White made a formal statement of complaint to gardaí five days after the incident (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- investigationA Garda who spoke to McGahon on the night said he was intoxicated but was not arrested (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- chargeJohn McGahon, 31, of Faughart Gardens, St. Mary's Road, Dundalk, pleaded not guilty to assaulting Breen White causing him harm at or about Park Street, Dundalk, on 16 June 2018. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeMcGahon is on trial for assaulting Breen White causing him harm on Park Street, Co Louth, on 16 June 2018 (irishtimes.com)
- chargeHe was charged with assaulting Breen White causing him harm on Park Street, Dundalk, on 16 June 2018 (irishtimes.com)
- chargeMcGahon pleaded not guilty to assaulting Breen White causing him harm at or about Park Street, Dundalk on 16 June 2018 (irishtimes.com)
- chargeMcGahon pleaded not guilty to assaulting Breen White causing him harm on Park Street, Dundalk, on 16 June 2018. (rte.ie)
- chargeThe charge was assaulting Breen White causing him harm on Park Street, Dundalk, on 16 June 2018 (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- courtThe trial is before a jury of four men and eight women and continues on Wednesday for the resumption of cross-examination of Mr White. (irishtimes.com)
- courtHugh Hartnett SC conducted the cross-examination of Mr White. (irishtimes.com)
- courtCCTV footage was replayed for the jury (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe trial continues before 11 jurors, four men and seven women, after one jury member was taken ill (irishtimes.com, thejournal.ie)
- courtSenior counsel Hugh Hartnett is cross-examining the witnesses for the defence (irishtimes.com)
- courtCCTV footage was replayed for the jury during cross-examination. (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe jury was to resume its deliberations on Friday (irishtimes.com)
- courtHe pleaded not guilty at Dundalk Circuit Court (irishtimes.com)
- courtDefence counsel Hugh Hartnett SC urged the jury to have regard to how his client considered the circumstances at the time (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe trial is being held at Dundalk Circuit Court (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe jury of four men and seven women retired to consider its verdict shortly before 2.30pm (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe jury suspended its deliberations for the night (thejournal.ie)
- courtMcGahon was cleared of assault causing harm following a four-day trial at Dundalk Circuit Court (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe jury failed to reach a unanimous verdict after more than 2.5 hours of deliberations (irishtimes.com)
- courtJudge Dara Hayes told the jury he would accept a majority verdict of at least 10 to one (irishtimes.com)
- courtFollowing a further four hours of deliberations, the jury found the accused not guilty (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe trial lasted four days at Dundalk Circuit Court. (rte.ie)
- courtThe trial was heard before a jury of four men and seven women after one member was taken ill. (rte.ie)
- courtThe jury failed to reach a unanimous verdict after over two-and-a-half hours of deliberations. (rte.ie)
- courtJudge Dara Hayes told the jury he would accept a majority verdict of at least 10-1. (rte.ie)
- courtFollowing a further four hours of deliberations the jury returned a verdict of not guilty. (rte.ie)
- courtMcGahon was acquitted by a jury of seriously assaulting a man outside a local bar and nightclub almost four years ago (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- courtThe jury heard all evidence since Tuesday before reaching the verdict (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- courtJohn McGahon was acquitted by a jury at Dundalk Circuit Court (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- courtThe prosecution was led by Carl Hanahoe BL and the defence by Hugh Hartnett SC (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- otherMr White is suing the accused for damages in a civil action. (irishtimes.com)
- otherMr White made a settlement of €537,000 with the Criminal Assets Bureau in 2017. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe accused was intoxicated but was not arrested that night (irishtimes.com)
- otherCCTV footage of the first part of the incident showed the defendant standing in the rain (thejournal.ie)
- otherThe accused is a Fine Gael Senator (thejournal.ie)
- otherMcGahon told gardaí he had acted in self defence (irishtimes.com, rte.ie)
- otherA garda said McGahon was intoxicated on the night but was not detained (irishtimes.com)
- otherWhen arrested four months later, McGahon told gardaí that putting his arm around the woman was totally innocent, friendly and something he did regularly (irishtimes.com)
- otherMcGahon stated he maintained his innocence throughout the process (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- otherMcGahon's legal team consisted of Hugh Hartnett SC, James McCullough BL and Conor MacGuill solicitors (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- otherMcGahon stated he has worked on behalf of the people of Dundalk and Louth since 2014 (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- otherA Fine Gael statement said the matter had now concluded (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- otherBreen White was treated for superficial lacerations on the forehead and bridge of his nose (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- otherBreen White is suing McGahon in a civil action for damages (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- otherBreen White had a settlement of €537,000 with the Criminal Assets Bureau in 2017 (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- otherMcGahon was interviewed by gardaí four months after the incident (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- otherThe medical evidence noted Mr White told an E.D. doctor he had been assaulted by four people who kicked and punched him (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- otherCCTV footage from four cameras was shown to the jury (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 29 May2022Louth Senator John McGahon acquitted of assault
Reports the jury's acquittal verdict and details of the four-day trial, including witness testimony, CCTV evidence, and closing arguments from both prosecution and defence.
accused, John McGahon, 31, male, named, irish (judged from name)John McGahonvictim, Breen White, male, irish (judged from name)Breen Whitevictim, Linda White, female, irish (judged from name)Linda Whitevictim, Cormac Rafferty, male, irish (judged from name)Cormac Rafferty - 27 May2022Louth Senator John McGahon releases statement after assault acquittal
Reports the statement released by Senator McGahon following his acquittal, in which he expressed relief, thanked the jury and his legal team (Hugh Hartnett SC, James McCullough BL, Conor MacGuill solicitors), and stated his focus on constituency work since 2014. A Fine Gael party statement confirmed the matter had concluded.
accused, John McGahon, male, named, irish (judged from name)John McGahonvictim, male - 27 May2022Fine Gael Senator cleared on assault charge
Provides detailed trial testimony from Breen White, Linda White, Cormac Rafferty, and Senator McGahon, along with the jury deliberation process and the majority verdict.
victim, Breen White, male, irish (judged from name)Breen Whitevictim, Linda White, female, irish (judged from name)Linda Whitevictim, Cormac Rafferty, male, irish (judged from name)Cormac Raffertyaccused, John McGahon, 31, male, named, irish (judged from name)John McGahon - 27 May2022Fine Gael Senator John McGahon found not guilty in assault case
Provides a detailed account of the four-day trial including witness testimony from Breen White, CCTV evidence, the accused's self-defence account, the jury's failed attempt at a unanimous verdict after 2.5 hours, Judge Dara Hayes accepting a majority verdict of at least 10 to 1, and the final acquittal after a further four hours of deliberation.
victim, Breen White, male, irish (judged from name)Breen Whitevictim, femaleaccused, John McGahon, 31, male, named, irish (judged from name)John McGahon - 26 May2022Jury suspends deliberations for the night in assault trial of Fine Gael senator
Reports the final day of the trial before the jury retired, including Garda testimony that the accused was intoxicated, the accused's account of events, medical evidence of injuries, CCTV footage, and closing speeches from both sides. The jury of four men and seven women suspended deliberations for the night.
accused, John McGahon, 31, male, named, irish (judged from name)John McGahonvictim, Breen White, 50s, male, irish (judged from name)Breen White - 26 May2022Jury in Senator John McGahon’s assault trial set to resume deliberations
Reports on the closing speeches by prosecutor Carl Hanahoe BL and defence counsel Hugh Hartnett SC, and the jury's resumption of deliberations.
victim, Breen White, 50s, male, irish (judged from name)Breen Whiteaccused, John McGahon, 31, male, named, irish (judged from name)John McGahon - 25 May2022Fine Gael senator accused of assault put his arm around wife of alleged victim, court hears
Trial day 25 May 2022: cross-examination of Breen White and testimony from Linda White and Cormac Rafferty; CCTV replayed for the jury; trial continues before 11 jurors after one member was taken ill.
accused, John McGahon, 31, male, named, irish (judged from name)John McGahonvictim, Breen White, 50s, male, irish (judged from name)Breen Whitevictim, female, irishvictim, Cormac Rafferty, male, irish (judged from name)Cormac Rafferty - 25 May2022Fine Gael senator accused of assault was ‘being a bully’, court told
Trial testimony from victim Breen White (cross-examination by senior counsel Hugh Hartnett), his wife Linda White, and son Cormac Rafferty; CCTV footage replayed to the jury; trial continues before 11 jurors after one member was taken ill.
victim, Breen White, 50s, male, irish (judged from name)Breen Whitevictim, female, irishvictim, Cormac Rafferty, male, irish (judged from name)Cormac Raffertyaccused, John McGahon, 31, male, named, irish (judged from name)John McGahon - 24 May2022Fine Gael Senator in court over alleged Dundalk assault
Reports the first day of the trial, including the victim's testimony describing the assault, cross-examination by defence counsel Hugh Hartnett SC, and reference to a €537,000 CAB consent order in 2017. The trial was before a jury of four men and eight women and was set to continue on Wednesday.
victim, Breen White, male, irish (judged from name)Breen Whiteaccused, John McGahon, 31, male, named, irish (judged from name)John McGahon