An Irish freedom fighter executed for his part in the murder of a Bradford soldier will receive a state funeral with military honours in Dublin tomorrow.

Kevin Barry was executed in 1920 for his part in the murder of three soldiers from the Duke of Wellington's Regiment.

But today a councillor criticised the timing of the funeral - and said people should "spare a thought" for the three soldiers who had been killed.

Barry was the first of ten members of the original IRA executed for their roles in the War of Independence in 1920 to 1921.

Private Marshall Whitehead, 20, Pte Humphreys, 19, and Pte Washington, 18, were attacked and killed while in a bread van on a visit to the Monk bakery in Dublin in 1920.

The capture and execution of Barry, 18, sparked protests across Ireland at the time.

Following a campaign by the families of the ten men, their bodies have been exhumed from Mountjoy Prison, Dublin, where they were executed 81 years ago. And tomorrow they will be led by a marching band to the city's Pro Cathedral for a Requiem mass before interment.

Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern is expected to pay a graveside tribute.

But today Councillor Andrew Carter (Con, Pudsey) said the decision for a state funeral was "wholly sickening".

He said: "The timing could only be regarded as thoroughly unfortunate.

"Perhaps while the Irish government is going through this macabre and morbid event in Dublin the rest of us could spare a thought for the three young soldiers who were killed and those other British soldiers who are today risking their lives to fight terrorism."

A spokesman for the Irish Government stressed the soldiers had not been members of the contemporary IRA, but the nation's official army. "The current IRA took that name in a bid to associate themselves with the cause of Irish independence," he said.

But Bradford MP Gerry Sutcliffe agreed the timing was insensitive.

He said: "There could have been a better time to make this sort of gesture because people may read the wrong kind of message from it.

"However, in a just society I believe we should practice forgiveness of this kind, but perhaps more thought could have been put into the timing."