Far-right party’s ‘opportunistic’ launch in Merrion Hotel called off

The planned launch of a far-right party has been cancelled after Dublin’s Merrion Hotel pulled the plug on the event timed by organisers to capitalise on the election of Donald Trump.

The National Party has an anti-immigrant, anti-Europe and anti-abortion agenda. Its president Justin Barrett, a far-right campaigner, has previously spoken at neo-Nazi events.

Merrion Hotel manager Garrett Power said the event was not taking place today. A spokeswoman for the hotel confirmed the event was cancelled but would not say why. The cancellation came after a backlash online from the public, politicians, and business figures.