Sinn Féin to boycott White House St Patrick's Day celebrations

The party has traditionally joined the Government in the White House for St Patrick's Day events

Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald speaking during a press conference at the Alex Hotel in Dublin. Picture: Gareth Chaney/PA Wire

Sinn Féin will not travel to the White House for St Patrick's Day, Mary Lou McDonald has announced.

Ms McDonald and Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O’Neill, the Sinn Fein vice president, made the announcement on Friday, citing “a principled stance against the threat of mass expulsion of the Palestinian people from Gaza”.