NORTH PROVIDENCE — Bowing to a request from Matthew Irving’s family that the event be cancelled, the group that was organizing a daylong outdoor concert and festival to help pay for his medical bills notified school officials yesterday that the concert was off and that it was withdrawing its request for use of the football field at North Providence High School.

Paul Burke, president of the North Providence Taxpayers Association, said that only two hours before the School Committee was to take up the request at a special session, he learned that Matthew’s mother, Nancy, had called and sent an e-mail from Germany asking that the event be called off.

He said he is not entirely sure of the reason but her e-mail reported that complications developed on the third day of a coma that Matthews’ doctors in Germany put him in. The doctors placed him in a coma to break the cycle of pain that he has endured for the last five years as a victim of Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy.

“While visiting Matthew today and meeting with the doctor, it was with great disappointment and concern that, due to Matthew’s bloodwork that was drawn at 5 a.m. today, by 7 a.m. Matthew’s ketamine was put on hold for the day,” his mother wrote in a blog posted on the family Web site www.setmattfreeofrsd.com. “The concern is that the high level of enzymes is causing problems to the liver and kidneys. Matthew developed a fever, which causes great concern.”

Nancy Irving said she was also concerned that the fundraising concert was being promoted on an “anti-government” Web site, presumably www.npcouncilmustgo.com.

“I was shocked to see Matthew’s fundraising event promoted on this anti-government Web site,” she wrote in her e-mail to Kenneth Cicerone, a member of the NPTA. “I ask you to immediately remove Matthew’s name and anything else to do with Matthew from this Web site, as Matthew has the utmost respect for authority in this town and, even though Matthew is 21 and in a coma, I have power of attorney for Matthew and am speaking on his behalf.”

Vito Martinelli, School Committee chairman, said he learned of the cancellation request both from an e-mail from Nancy Irving and a phone call from Burke.

He said he and other members of the School Committee were very excited about doing something to help Matthew and his family, and that he was surprised to find out it was being cancelled.

According to Burke, comedians, entertainers and at least six bands had planned to take part in the eight-hour event.

“We even made arrangements for a sound stage.”

rdujardi@projo.com