Adams won't attend Capitol Hill lunch

08/03/2005 - 16:35:39
Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams will not attend this year’s annual St Patrick’s Day Speaker’s lunch on Capitol Hill, it was confirmed today.

Northern Ireland political leaders have already been barred from attending the annual celebrations at the White House.

A spokesman from the Speaker’s office at the House of Representatives, said: “I can confirm Gerry Adams will not be attending our annual lunch.”

He refused to comment on whether Adams had specifically been excluded from the event and said he did not know whether other party leaders would be attending.

President George Bush traditionally attends the lunch alongside Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, Irish-Americans and Irish party leaders.

It will be the first time in 10 years that Adams has not attended the lunch and is an indication of the Bush Administration’s frustration over Sinn Féin’s continued links with the IRA.

Mr Adams has been a regular guest since 1995.

He is still expected to attend the annual American-Ireland Fund dinner on March 16, on Capitol Hill.

The family of murdered Belfast man Robert McCartney is expected to travel to the US next week and may be invited to meet President Bush at the White House reception.

Mr McCartney’s sisters have been in contact with US Government representatives over the past few days, in their bid to bring his killers to justice.

The 33-year-old father of two from the nationalist Short Strand was stabbed to death after a row in a city centre pub on January 30.

His family blame republicans for the murder on republicans. The backlash has forced the IRA to expel three of its members and Sinn Féin to suspend seven representatives.