Adams Washington bound for St Patrick's Day

Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams is to travel to Washington for St Patrick’s Day, he revealed today.

Mr Adams was not asked to the White House last year in the wake of the political fall-out from the Northern Bank robbery and the murder of Robert McCartney.

But the West Belfast MP said he would accept an invitation, expected to be confirmed later, from the White House to take part in the celebrations next Friday.

Mr Adams said the main aim of his trip would be to advance the peace process but insisted he will seek to have a ban on Sinn Féin fundraising lifted ahead of his trip.

He added: “We have asked for fundraising as well but it is not the main focus.”

On the significance of the trip, he said: “The main reason for going to the States particularly on St Patrick’s Day and around that period is to brief Irish Americans.

“We have made it very, very clear to the two governments (British and Irish) that we expect them and want them to put the institutions in place in advance of the Orange marching season.

“Going to the States, and I do intend to go, is an opportunity to seek support for that proposition and to encourage the two governments to go down that road.”