John McGahon explained

Honorific-Prefix:	Senator
Office:	Senator
Term Start:	29 June 2020
Constituency:	Cultural and Educational Panel
Birth Date:	20 November 1990
Birth Place:	Dundalk, County Louth, Ireland
Nationality:	Irish
Party:	Fine Gael
Relatives:	Brendan McGahon (uncle)
Alma Mater:	University College Dublin

John McGahon (born 20 November 1990) is an Irish Fine Gael politician who has been a senator for the Cultural and Educational Panel since April 2020.^[1]

Early life and career

McGahon is from Dundalk, County Louth, and attended Dundalk Grammar School. He obtained a BA in history and politics from University College Dublin.^[2] His father, Johnny McGahon, was a member of Dundalk town council from 1994 to 2004.^[3] His uncle Brendan McGahon was a TD for Louth from 1982 to 2002.^[4]

Louth County Council

John McGahon was first elected to Louth County Council for the Dundalk–Carlingford local electoral area in 2014, retaining his seat in 2019.^{[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 the Louth constituency in the 2020 general election.^[5]

Seanad Éireann

On 31 March 2020, McGahon was elected to Senate following the 2020 election to the upper house.^[8] In June 2020, he was appointed as the Fine Gael senate spokesperson on climate action and is on the joint Oireachtas committee on climate action and the committee on the implementation of the Good Friday Agreement.

Assault allegation

While awaiting trial for an alleged assault in his home town of Dundalk, dating to June 2018,^[9] McGahon was asked by Fine Gael not to stand in the 2020 general election but ran anyway. In an interview with LMFM in 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]

External links

• John McGahon's page on the Fine Gael website

Notes and References

1. Web site: John McGahon. Oireachtas Members Database. 19 April 2020.
2. Web site: Fitzer on solo run as McGahon steps in . The Dundalk Leader . 3 October 2018 . 31 March 2020.
3. Web site: Johnny McGahon . Elections Ireland . 31 March 2020.
4. Web site: Brendan McGahon . ElectionsIreland.org . 31 March 2020.
5. Web site: John McGahon . Elections Ireland . 31 March 2020.
6. Web site: John McGahon. Fine Gael. 31 March 2020.
7. Web site: McGahon elected chair of Municipal District. The Dundalk Leader . 8 June 2017 . 12 January 2022.
   - Web site: McGahon takes Dundalk Municipal District chair . The Argus . 22 June 2019 . 12 January 2022.
8. Web site: Seanad general election 2020 . oireachtas.ie . Oireachtas . 31 March 2020 . 12 February 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200212211240/https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/elections/seanad-general-election-2020/#panels . dead .
   - News: First members elected to the 26th Seanad. RTÉ News. 31 March 2020.
9. Web site: Case against Fine Gael county councillor further adjourned. Elaine. Keogh. The Irish Times.
10. Web site: McGahon 'asked not to run in general election by Fine Gael'. The Irish Independent.
11. Web site: FG general election candidate McGahon under investigation over alleged assault. Business Post.
12. Web site: Feehan . Conor . 24 May 2022 . Fine Gael Senator John McGahon goes on trial accused of assault causing harm . 2022-05-25 . The Irish Independent .
13. Web site: Fine Gael senator John McGahon found not guilty of assault outside Dundalk bar in 2018. The Journal.
14. Web site: Fine Gael Senator John McGahon ordered to pay €39,000 over assault outside pub. BreakingNews.ie . 2 July 2024. 3 July 2024.