Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams has scrapped plans to raise funds during a visit to the US next week, it was revealed today.
The trip is being undertaken amid the greatest crisis to face the republican party in years and in an apparent attempt to shore-up support among Irish-Americans.
The party has been rocked by the fall-out from the £26.5 million Northern Bank robbery blamed on the IRA and the murder of Robert McCartney by IRA members.
Mr Adams will be in the US over St Patrick's Day but there will be no invitation to the White House this year as there has been for him, and other Northern Ireland political leaders, in recent years.
Sinn Fein spokesman
Sinn Féin said it had been decided that a series of fundraising events were being changed into straightforward speaking engagements.
It is believed republicans fear the Bush administration could decide to stop fundraising by the party in the current climate. Money from Irish-
In a clear sign of the extent of the crisis which Sinn Féin believes it is in, the party has decided chief negotiator Martin McGuinness will not now also travel to the US as planned.
"The political situation is much too grave for both Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness to be out of Ireland at the same time," a party spokesman said.
Mr Adams visit will take in Washington, New York, New Jersey, Philadelphia and Cleveland.
Americans in the US has long provided a substantial boost to republican coffers.
PA