Taoiseach and Fine Gael leader Simon Harris said he stands by a Fine Gael Senator John McGahon, who was found by the High Court to be civilly liable for an assault.
Photos have been published in a Sunday newspaper showing the extent of facial injuries suffered by Breen White following the 2018 assault.
Harris said his party will continue to stand by, and canvass for, Mr McGahon, who is a general election candidate in Louth.
McGahon was found not guilty of assault in a criminal trial of the case, but a High Court jury found him 65 per cent civilly liable.
Taoiseach Simon Harris said: "Yes my party will continue to canvass for him. These matters were all examined in a court of law.
"A jury sat in Louth, a jury looked at the CCTV, the jury looked at images.
"A defence was put forward, a defence of self-defence was put forward, and a jury found him not guilty."
A High Court jury awarded Breen White €39,000 against Fine Gael Senator John McGahon over the late night assault outside a pub.
Breen White, a farmer from Castleblaney, Co Monaghan, sued Mr McGahon for assault and battery outside the Rum House pub in Dundalk, Co Louth, on June 16th, 2018.
Mr McGahon (33), who was elected to the Seanad after the incident, denied the claims and said he was assaulted and acted in self-defence.
The jury was asked to decide if he was assaulted and whether any damage suffered by Mr White was caused or partly caused by want of care on his part.
The jury, after just over three hours of deliberations, found he had been assaulted and awarded a total of €60,000, including €10,000 for aggravated damages. They 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, gave a decree for €39,000 against Mr McGahon.
