Sinn Féin pulls out of cross-party video backing parade

A war of words has erupted over Sinn Féin’s withdrawal from a cross-party video supporting New York’s main gay-friendly St Patrick’s Day parade.

The St Pat’s For All parade was organised to rival New York’s biggest Irish-American celebration, which the city’s mayor is boycotting due to its ban on gay groups identifying themselves in the march.

Fianna Fáil senator Averil Power coordinated a cross-party video to back the gay-friendly alternative event, but says Sinn Féin pulled out at the last minute because it did not want to upset its fundraising efforts amongst conservative Irish- Americans.