Secret files released as part of the State Papers by the National Archives revealed the coalition was livid at what was perceived to have been a snub by London over the key appointment in 1998.
One document confirmed that the government had only learnt about the appointment of Mr Patten to the role from an article in The Daily Telegraph.
A civil service briefing note for then taoiseach Bertie Ahern on the matter underlined the desire to express “strong dissatisfaction” over what had happened and how Dublin was kept in the dark.
Department of Foreign Affairs secretary general Dermot Gallagher wrote to the Northern Ireland Office to query precisely when it had intended to inform the government of what was planned.
A key element of Irish concerns was the fact the new commission lacked anyone who carried credibility with the nationalist population in the North.
Mr Gallagher told Northern Ireland secretary Mo Mowlam on June 3, 1998, that this was “a glaring weakness” for the body.
The government had been proposing the Derry academic Angela Hegarty. However, the files revealed that her candidacy was rejected by Northern Ireland civil servants.
Memos revealed the government felt the make-up of the new body catered for the interests of both policing associations and the unionist population.
Ms Mowlam explained to Irish officials that the candidacy of Ms Hegarty had been “adamantly turned down” by Northern Ireland civil servants.
The commission also sparked anger when Dr Maurice Hayes was represented by the British as a nationalist representative. Dr Hayes told the Irish authorities he was annoyed at the move.
He said he was very upset and had considered informing the Northern Ireland Office it could have its first resignation from the new body.
Mr Gallagher said he urged Dr Hayes to remain.
“I urged him to forget about any such thoughts. He did not see himself as a representative of the nationalist community, or in any way ‘balancing Peter Smith’ [a leading Ulster Unionist],” he said.
“He was also irate about Peter Smith and himself being lumped together in the one sentence.
“He said in no uncertain terms to the secretary of state that he could ‘at least be given his own sentence’.”
Irish officials had also strongly supported the candidacy of South African policing expert Zelda Hoffman.
Mr Gallagher had raised the possibility of former Boston police commissioner Kathleen O’Toole being replaced by Ms Hoffman – or an extra commission slot being created.
In such a scenario, the extra place could be filled by the then head of the John Jay College of Criminal Justice in the US, Professor Gerald Lynch.
While Northern Ireland officials accepted the candidacy of Prof Lynch, Irish officials noted that there was strong support within the North, and particularly the RUC, for the candidacy of Ms O’Toole.
Department of Foreign Affairs diplomat Eamonn McKee noted that Ms O’Toole was well thought of within Northern Ireland and UK policing circles.
RUC chief constable Ronnie Flanagan, in particular, thought very highly of her and she was very involved in RUC/Boston Police Department co-operation.
Irish officials also noted that both Ms O’Toole and Prof Lynch’s involvement with the commission was strongly supported by the White House. Influential Irish-American US senator Ted Kennedy was also very supportive of both.
US newspapers argued that the US nominees would appeal to both constituencies in Northern Ireland.
One article in The Boston Globe said the fact Ms O’Toole had an Irish-American and Catholic background would appeal to nationalists, while unionists would support the fact she had been deeply involved in RUC-Boston police co-operation for many years.
Even after the commission was announced, Irish officials remained nonplussed. One briefing note – referring back to the failure to inform Dublin of Mr Patten’s appointment in advance – said: “It was not the way to do business. [The] credibility of the commission is already damaged as a result. We need to ensure that this is not repeated.”
