The leader of Fine Gael has said one of his party's General Election candidates in Co Louth has already "publicly addressed" an incident that saw him held liable for serious injuries to another man.
John McGahon was found not guilty in a trial in 2022 for physically attacking Breen White outside a Co Louth pub. Images of Mr White's injuries were published in the Sunday Times over the weekend.
Mr McGahon was found not guilty but found 65% liable for damages in a subsequent civil trial and was ordered to pay €39,000 in damages.
Speaking to journalists on his way into tonight's leader's debate on RTÉ's Upfront with Katie Hannon, Simon Harris was asked if Mr McGahon should respond to media requests for interviews on the incident.
Mr Harris said it had already been dealt with in a criminal court where Senator McGahon was acquitted.
He said this was in contrast to Sinn Féin and rejected suggestions by Mary Lou McDonald that he had not dealt with issue, saying: "Her press officer is in prison tonight for being a paedophile, John McGahon was found not guilty by a criminal court".
Earlier this month, former Sinn Féin press officer Michael McMonagle was given an 18-month sentence for a series of child sex offences.
Mr Harris also told reporters that he would not have used the word "scuffle" to describe the altercation involving Fine Gael candidate John McGahon if he had first seen the video footage that has emerged of the incident.
"In fairness, had I seen the video, I don't think I would have used that word at all," he said. "But what I do know is this - I do know that we are a country of laws, we are a country that has courts.
"We are a country that juries of our peers, citizens of this country, sit and assess all of the evidence, not part of the evidence, they look at all of the CCTV, they look at all of the photographs, and then they, and they alone, determine whether somebody is guilty or not guilty of a crime.
"And I can say this to you - if John McGahon had it been convicted of a criminal offence in this country, he wouldn't be running for Fine Gael. Not sure every leader that I'm going to stand on the stage with tonight will be able to say that about all of their candidates."
Meanwhile, Green Party leader Roderic O'Gorman has said it will be up to the people of Louth to decide if Mr McGahon is a suitable candidate for the Dáil.
When asked if he would be on the ballot paper if he were a member of the Green Party, Mr O'Gorman replied: "I think, probably not, no".
Read more: McGahon candidacy opens Fine Gael up to political onslaught
Earlier, the leader of Fianna Fáil said that he was "surprised" that Mr Harris backed Mr McGahon despite concerns raised by other political parties.
Speaking on RTÉ's Today with Claire Byrne, Micheál Martin said that he would not run Mr McGahon as a candidate if he was a member of Fianna Fáil.
He described the video of the fight in 2018 as "quite shocking" but added that it was a matter for "Fine Gael to address".
Similarly, Ms McDonald said if Mr McGahon was in her party he would not be running in the General Election.
Ms McDonald described the video of the incident as "very disturbing", "violent" and "shocking".
She said the leader of Fine Gael needs to address the controversy.
Read more: The first debate - ten party leaders on Upfront tonight
Ms McDonald said that if Mr McGahon was a member of Sinn Féin it would be the headline news and the dominating story of the election campaign.
People Before Profit candidate in Dublin North-West Conor Reddy said he does not believe Mr McGahon is fit for office.
"I think he's not fit for office, to be honest. You see the standard that's applied to Sinn Féin candidates and Sinn Féin TDs in recent weeks and to members of the Opposition.
"I think you have to be consistent in the standards that you apply to people who are seeking public office," he said.
Earlier today, Mr Harris said he had seen the video footage of the incident on the internet but he did not believe that was all of the footage.
"What I do know is a jury saw all of the footage," he said
Mr Harris said he was not a judge or a jury and said the people of Louth will have the right to decide who they wish to represent them.
The Fine Gael leader said that what Mr McGahon did was wrong and there was no doubt at all in relation to that.
However, he said self-defence was accepted by the jury.
Mr Harris added he was democratically chosen to stand in Co Louth and the facts around the case were all known for quite a period of time.
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Additional reporting Mary Regan, Tommy Meskill
