Head of the National Police Chiefs’ Council Gavin Stephens said officers are expected to referee social debate using laws that pre-date social media

The hip-hop group apologised to the family of Mr Amess after footage emerged from a gig allegedly showing one member saying ‘kill your local MP’.

Footage emerged in which a member of the Irish rap group appeared to say: ‘The only good Tory is a dead Tory. Kill your local MP.’

The Taoiseach said Justice Minister Helen McEntee had ‘worked intensively’ on the issue and would be bringing forward amendments shortly.