A High Court jury has ordered a Fine Gael senator to pay €39,000 to a Co Monaghan man, who he was previously acquitted of seriously assaulting in a trial that took place in Dundalk.
Breen White, a farmer from Castleblayney had sued John McGahon for assault and battery outside The Rum House on Park Street in Dundalk on June 16th, 2018.
Senator McGahon had claimed that he was assaulted and had acted in self-defence in the early hours of that morning outside the public house. According to the Irish Times, the jury, after just over 3hours, found Mr White had been assaulted and awarded a total of €60,000, including €10,000 for aggravated damages. It apportioned blame at 65 per cent against Mr McGahon and 35 per cent against Mr White.
Mr Justice Alexander Owens, who presided over the four-day trial thanked and discharged the jury and exempted them from service for nine years.
