In a letter published in this week's Limerick Leader, Jared Harris wrote that he had watched with "anger and dismay" at the furore that has been generated by the statue, which was sculpted by Clare artist Jim Connolly.

He is sharply critical of those people who he believes are questioning whether or not his father deserves to be commemorated by a permanent memorial: "It really takes some doing, to go to the considerable trouble of dedicating a permanent memorial to one of your sons, and then spend the next twelve months kicking the man."

There has been considerable debate about the height and features of the statue, and Mr Connolly has been forced to defend his work on more than one occasion. While Mr Harris admits that while the physique of the statue bears closer resemblance to its sculptor than to his father, art always reflects the creator as much as it does its subject.

"If he (Mr Connolly] wants to defend his choices in this work of art he is not only free to do so, he is able," he said. "My father on the other hand is dead. You can't be any further down than dead. So stop kicking the man. There's no honour in it."

Local artist and Richard Harris enthusiast Thomas Delohery, who has criticised the statue in the past for not properly representing the famed actor, welcomed the letter. "When the statue was unveiled, there were some nasty things said about it. It's very easy to attack someone when they've passed on and can't defend themselves. I've gotten to know Jared and his brothers very well and I think that he's very brave to write this letter. It shows he thinks it's important that Limerick people see this whole scenario in the right light."

Mr Connolly echoed Mr Harris's criticism of people who he believes have used the statue as a vessel to attack the legacy of Richard Harris: "There has never been a single work of art that hasn't drawn controversy. But I do think myself that it is a sad reflection on people, particularly those belonging to the artistic community, who have used the statue to criticise Richard Harris."