USA: SINN FEIN LEADER GERRY ADAMS VISIT

(15 Mar 1995) English/Nat

Gerry Adams, leader of the political wing of the I-R-A, continued his controversial trip to the United States today (Wednesday) with a fund raising event in New York.

At the same time in the United Kingdom. members of a Protestant fringe party associated with a paramilitary group say they have accepted an invitation to President Clinton's St. Patrick's Day gathering on Friday.

In another stage of his whistle-stop tour Gerry Adams flew back into New York for the first major fund raising function of the Friends of Sinn Fein, the party's new lobby organisation.

Guest at the lunch in New York Essex House hotel paid $200 a head to attend.

Amongst the better known diners was multimillionaire Donald Trump.

While more than 500 guests dined inside, outside the hotel a small group of protestors from Northern Ireland gathered to condemn what they say is ongoing punishment beatings and bullying by paramilitary groups - both IRA and Loyalists. .

This man, who says his son killed himself after receiving a beating by the IRA, pointed the finger of accusation at Adams.

SOUNDBITE: What I am here to highlight is the fact that he is effectively involved in the continual beatings of young people in Nationalist areas of N. Ireland. That's why I'm here.
SUPERCAPTION: Thomas Clarke

Inside Gerry Adams made a speech to the assembled guests.

SOUNDBITE: The British still maintain jurisdiction over a section of our people . And what we have to do is amounts to a tremendously massive Endeavour. we have to make peace with a government which has sought only to oppress us. And we have to make peace with a section of our own people whose leadership has sought for decades only to discriminate against us. But let me say this, the peace process in which we are engaged threatens no one. The Ireland that we want would not be worth struggling for if it did not involve the Northern Unionist and the Northern Protestants our brothers and sisters on that island.
SUPERCAPTION: Gerry Adams, President Sinn Fein

Throughout the lunch the protesters continued their demonstration outside the hotel.

This man's wife died in an IRA bomb in Belfast.

SOUNDBITE:He justifies the existence of the provos, of Sinn Fein, of the IRA, claiming that they were fighting for a just and lasting peace. Well I'm sorry but I don't see how my wife's murder helped IRA/Sinn Fein achieve peace. Its hypocrisy. Gerry Adams is a hypocrite.
SUPERCAPTION: Alan McBride

SOUNDBITE:The IRA and Sinn Fein want to maintain their abusive power and control within the communities and that is unacceptable. Gerry Adams cannot 50 percent convert to democracy. If he is going to convert to democracy it has to be 100 percent and the keystone of democracy is respect for human rights.
SUPERCAPTION: Henry Robinson, Families against Intimidation and Terror.

The decision by the Ulster Democratic Party to accept President Clinton's invitation to the White House on Friday was welcomed by Adams.

[SOUNDBITE: I think that is very good. We want to see an Ireland which is inclusive. St. Patrick's Day is not a nationalist holiday it is an inclusive Irish situation and I welcome everyone into that celebration of our national day.]
SUPERCAPTION: Gerry Adams, President Sinn Fein]

Friday's event is a social occasion, thrown by the President in honour of the Irish Prime Minister, John Bruton. It is unclear what, if any discussion will take place.
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