The mother of the murdered "Real IRA" member, Mr Joe O'Connor, is to picket a $500-ahead Sinn Fein fund-raising dinner in New York next week which Mr Gerry Adams is scheduled to attend.
Mr O'Connor (26) was shot dead in Ballymurphy in west Belfast last month. Republican sources have admitted the Provisional IRA was involved. The O'Connor family have already picketed Sinn Fein's headquarters on the Falls Road.
Mrs Margaret O'Connor was due to arrive in New York last night. She plans to take part in a candlelight vigil outside the Sheraton Towers Hotel in Manhattan on Wednesday night where the Sinn Fein dinner will be held.
Up to 1,000 guests are expected. Wednesday's protest has been organised by the Irish Freedom Committee in New York. Its spokesman, Mr John McDonagh, said: "Gerry Adams has called for independent inquiries into the Dublin and Monaghan bombings, Bloody Sunday and the Gibraltar killings. We want to know why he hasn't called for a similar inquiry into the murder of Joe O'Connor."
Meanwhile, Mr O'Connor's family yesterday claimed they were facing "massive harassment and intimidation". A spokesman said Mr O'Connor's mobile telephone had been found by the Provisional IRA shortly before his death and claimed members of the organisation had rung the family on it and taunted them about the murder. Provisional IRA sources refused to comment.
Mr O'Connor's widow, Nicola, yesterday pleaded to be "left in peace"["] . She said she had received hate mail and malicious telephone calls. The Irish Republican Socialist Party, the INLA's political wing, said Sinn Fein should ensure she was left alone.
Meanwhile, a former Provisional IRA prisoner, Mr Anthony McIntyre, claimed attempts were being made to drive him from his west Belfast home because he had publicly blamed the Provisional IRA for Mr O'Connor's murder.
Around 50 people, including Sinn Fein members, picketed the house in Springhill on Wednesday night. It was the second picket on Mr McIntyre's home in 10 days. Mr McIntyre served 17 years in the H-Blocks.
His girlfriend, Ms Carrie Twomey, who is six months pregnant, said she was very frightened. "I don't go out any more. I don't feel safe walking about the neighbourhood. We are being watched all the time. Anthony did not name any individual in connection with the murder," she said.
"All he said is that, from his research, he believed the Provisional IRA was responsible. He had to speak the truth. The protesters have admitted he did not name anybody in connection with the killing but they are still picketing us. It is a very tense situation."