Sinn Féin defends boycott of US visit for St Patrick’s Day events amid criticism

The party’s leadership said it would not participate as part of 'a principled stance against the threat of mass expulsion of the Palestinian people from Gaza'

Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald speaking during a press conference at the Alex Hotel in Dublin (Gareth Chaney/PA)

Sinn Féin has defended its decision to boycott Washington DC for St Patrick’s Day amid criticism from political opponents across the island of Ireland.

The party’s leadership, which normally travels to the US to mark the occasion every year, said it would not participate as part of “a principled stance against the threat of mass expulsion of the Palestinian people from Gaza”.