John McGahon
John McGahon | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Senator | |
| Assumed office 29 June 2020 | |
| Constituency | Cultural and Educational Panel |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 20 November 1990 Dundalk,County Louth,Ireland |
| Political party | Fine Gael |
| Relatives | Brendan McGahon(uncle) |
| Alma mater | University College Dublin |
John McGahon(born 20 November 1990) is an IrishFine Gaelpolitician who has been asenatorfor theCultural and Educational Panelsince April 2020.[1]
Early life and career[edit]
McGahon is fromDundalk,County Louth,and attendedDundalk Grammar School.He obtained a BA in history and politics fromUniversity College Dublin.[2]His father, Johnny McGahon, was a member of Dundalktown councilfrom1994to2004.[3]His uncleBrendan McGahonwas aTDforLouthfrom1982to2002.[4]
Louth County Council[edit]
John McGahon was first elected toLouth County Councilfor theDundalk–Carlingfordlocal electoral areain2014,retaining his seat in2019.[5][6]He was elected as chairperson of the Dundalk Municipal District on two separate occasions, 2017–2018 and 2019–2020.[7]He stood unsuccessfully in theLouthconstituency in the2020 general election.[5]
Seanad Éireann[edit]
On 31 March 2020, McGahon was elected to Senate following the2020 electionto the upper house.[8]In June 2020, he was appointed as theFine Gaelsenate spokesperson on climate action and is on the joint Oireachtas committee on climate action and the committee on the implementation of theGood Friday Agreement.
Assault allegation[edit]
While awaiting trial for an allegedassaultin his home town of Dundalk, dating to June 2018,[9]McGahon was asked by Fine Gael not to stand in the2020 general electionbut ran anyway. In an interview withLMFMin October 2018, he admitted that he had been involved in a fight and that he had a long-standing problem with alcohol.[10][11]
On 24 May 2022, McGahon went on trial, accused of assault.[12]On 27 May 2022, he was found not guilty[13]
In July 2024, in a civil action in the High Court, a jury ordered McGahon to pay €39,000 over the assault in June 2018.[14]
References[edit]
- ^"John McGahon".Oireachtas Members Database.Retrieved19 April2020.
- ^"Fitzer on solo run as McGahon steps in".The Dundalk Leader.3 October 2018.Retrieved31 March2020.
- ^"Johnny McGahon".Elections Ireland.Retrieved31 March2020.
- ^"Brendan McGahon".ElectionsIreland.org.Retrieved31 March2020.
- ^ab"John McGahon".Elections Ireland.Retrieved31 March2020.
- ^"John McGahon".Fine Gael.Retrieved31 March2020.
- ^"McGahon elected chair of Municipal District".The Dundalk Leader.8 June 2017.Retrieved12 January2022.
-"McGahon takes Dundalk Municipal District chair".The Argus.22 June 2019.Retrieved12 January2022. - ^"Seanad general election 2020".oireachtas.ie.Oireachtas. Archived fromthe originalon 12 February 2020.Retrieved31 March2020.
-"First members elected to the 26th Seanad".RTÉ News.31 March 2020. - ^Keogh, Elaine."Case against Fine Gael county councillor further adjourned".The Irish Times.
- ^"McGahon 'asked not to run in general election by Fine Gael'".The Irish Independent.
- ^"FG general election candidate McGahon under investigation over alleged assault".Business Post.
- ^Feehan, Conor (24 May 2022)."Fine Gael Senator John McGahon goes on trial accused of assault causing harm".The Irish Independent.Retrieved25 May2022.
- ^"Fine Gael senator John McGahon found not guilty of assault outside Dundalk bar in 2018".The Journal.
- ^"Fine Gael Senator John McGahon ordered to pay €39,000 over assault outside pub".BreakingNews.ie.2 July 2024.Retrieved3 July2024.