Ireland’s Taoiseach (Prime Minister) and his government had planned an event to commemorate the Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC). Public officials gave a harsh criticism of the event, claiming they were going to boycott it. Mr Varadkar defended his plans for the event and said he was “disappointed” at the boycott threats.

He said his Government “stands over its decision” to commemorate members of the RIC.

Within hours of the defence, the plans for the event were then cancelled.

Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan said last night he was determined the commemoration would take place at a later date.

He said: “It’s the right thing to do.”

Mr Flanagan said given the “disappointing response of some” he did not believe the event should go ahead.

However, the minister promised there would be further consultation.

Ministers insisted the event was recommended by an Expert Advisory Group.

However, historian Diarmaid Ferriter, a member of the group, disputed this, maintaining it had not recommended such a ceremony.

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He said the group should not be used as a “mudguard” to shield the Government.

Mr Flanagan later rejected Mr Ferriter’s suggestion that he misrepresented the group’s position.

A source told the Irish Independent Mr Flanagan was behind the proposal to hold the event.

They said it was “something that came from justice primarily” and claimed Mr Flanagan’s department was “managing this themselves to a large extent”.

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As the controversy grew earlier this week, Mr Varadkar mounted a defence of the commemoration.

He said: “It’s about remembering our history, not condoning what happened.”

“We should be mature enough as a State to acknowledge all aspects of our past.”

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin joined the boycott claiming the commemoration had been an “error in judgment”.

He accused the Government of causing “unnecessary controversy” by abandoning an approach of public consultation.

Speaking in Dublin, Independent Councillor Noeleen Reilly said: “We are firmly opposed to these murderous cretins being remembered in our city.

“The RIC and the DMP had an intolerable record of barbarism in this country while carrying out British rule in Ireland.

“This was the police force that brutalised and murdered workers in Dublin during the 1913 Lockout.

“This was the force that identified those to be executed after the Easter Rising.”

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