MR Gerry Adams received warm reception from tens thousands of people as marched for the first time in New York St Patrick's Day parade on Saturday. Before leaving the US, the Sinn Fein president said that he hoped there would no more violence by IRA.
Speaking to reporters attending a dinner in Pennsylvania held by Friendly Sons of St Patrick on Saturday evening, he said: "I think you have to see the bombings in the context of 18 months of no bombings. I hope there isn't (more violence) but we have contained violence at this time".
Asked on a television talk show yesterday if the IRA had committed a strategic mistake in ending the ceasefire, he replied: "I think the cessation should have been continued". The SDLP leader, Mr John Hume, said on the same programme that he had never seen such a powerful message for peace from Irish-Americans.
Asked on the McLaughlin programme: "Can't you get the IRA to restore the ceasefire", Mr Adams said: "What we have to do is create the climate so talks can take place on all the issues...The two governments recognise that confidence-building measures are necessary.
When pressed by host John McLaughlin, who has a confrontational interview style, Mr Adams said: "This might be television entertainment but this is a life and death situation in Northern Ireland".
The 235th St Patrick's Day parade was dedicated to conciliation in Northern Ireland by the 1996 grand marshal, Mr Bill Flynn. Mr Adams was flanked by two Republican Congress Members, Mr Ben Gilman and Mr Peter King, as he walked along Fifth Avenue where, in the words of the Associated Press news agency, he was greeted like a native son". The New York Daily News described how "women squealed his name, men reached for his hand, and politicians and police elbowed their way to his side for photographs".
Thirty-six members of the Irish Gay and Lesbian Organisation were arrested after they tried to rush down the parade route before it started, in protest against their now annual exclusion.
They waved poster's with slogans such as "Irish and Queer" and "Lesbian Leprechaun". Seven others were arrested for trying to join in the parade. One slogan attacked the Sinn Fein leader for participating in the parade. Mr Adams marched behind the banner of the United Irish Counties. Among the shouts of support, one or two voices expressed anger at the IRA bombings.
Cardinal John O'Connor greeted Mr Adams outside the cathedral where earlier he had given communion to the Sinn Fein leader. During the pre-parade service the Cardinal quoted Pope John Paul's appeal to Ireland in 1979 to end the violence and was cheered by the 4,000-strong congregation when he said: "I urge you in politics to have the courage to face up to your responsibilities".
Also in the congregation were New York Governor George Pataki and Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan, who said two weeks ago that Mr Adams should not have been allowed back into the US because of the end of the IRA ceasefire.
Many marchers wore a mourning band in honour of the Irish American police officer, Kevin Gillespie, killed in a shooting in the Bronx on Thursday night.
