THE US Administration has agreed to allow a former IRA member, Mr Sean O'Callaghan, enter the US for a trip sponsored by the Sunday Times of London for which he now writes a column. An official said Mr O'Callaghan needed a waiver as his background as a convicted IRA member would normally disqualify him from a visa.
He said the Administration took into account Mr O'Callaghan's unequivocal repudiation of terrorism and violence. He has severed his connection with the IRA and is an advocate of a non violent solution to the problems of Northern Ireland."
The last time such a waiver was granted was for Mr Joe Cahill just before the announcement of the IRA ceasefire in August 1994. Mr Cahill was allowed to enter the US so that he could explain the circumstances of the ceasefire to Irish American republicans.
It has recently been announced that the Sinn Fein President, Mr Gerry Adams, would not be seeking a renewal of his visa to visit the US at this time to publicise his autobiography which has just been published here.
Sinn Fein said Mr Adams could not visit the US at this time because of the impending British election in which he is a candidate for West Belfast. But the Sunday Times claimed in a report several weeks ago that Mr Adams had been told informally that he would not be granted a visa if he applied for one because of ongoing IRA violence.