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Don't Let Him In Senator sparks firestorm in demand to deny U.S. visa for Sinn Fein leader

Daily News (New York) Wednesday, February 21 1996 By Frank Lombardi in New York and Richard Sisk in Washington Daily News Staff Writers Moynihan:  Keep Sinn Fein boss out Sen. Daniel Moynihan (D-NY) yesterday touched off a political firestorm by urging that Sinn Feinn leader Gerry Adams be denied a visa for St. Patrick's Day visits to New York and Washington.  Breaking with other Irish-American elected officials, who have called for maintaining close contacts with Adams, Moynihan issued a withering denunciation of Adams and Sinn Fein, the political arm of the Irish Republican Army, for failing to condemn the three IRA bomb plants in London since Feb. 9.  "It's the President's call, but I don't think we should let him back in," Moynihan told the Daily News Editorial Board when asked whether Adams' visa should be renewed.  "We can talk to him, we can talk to him any time we want to," Moynihan said of Adams.  "But why do we have him marching around with a parade" next month on St. Patrick's Day?  Moynihan also scoffed at Adams' contention that he was unaware of who was responsible for renewing the IRA bombing campaign.  "We have to pretend he doesn't know," Moynihan said with disdain.  "I despise those people [the IRA].  I don't know why we never get a better fix on who they are.  I think they're murderers.  I think they are everything that is contemptible."  Moynihan's comments drew a strong response from Rep. Peter King (R-L.I.) who is close to Adams and favors giving him a visa.  "Gerry Adams has done more for peace in Ireland than Pat Moynihan has ever dreamed of," King snapped.  "If Moynihan spent more time in Belfast than he does in the Library, he might have some idea of what's going on.  By even talking about denying Gerry Adams a visa, Moynihan is stabbing the Irish people in the back."  The Rev. Sean McManus, head of the Irish National Caucus, called Moynihan's remarks "unconscionable" and warned of the political fallout from denying Adams a visa, saying, "It would damage Clinton's standing in the Irish-American community."  White House officials have said that President Clinton would wait until the time of Adams' planned visit nears next month before he decides whether to give him a visa.  The President wants to see if the violence persists, the officials added.  And in London yesterday, an Irish-man injured when an IRA bomb tore apart a double-decker bus Sunday night apparently was cleared as a suspect.  And two other men who had been arrested were released without being charged.  Police believe the bomber was killed when explosives in a briefcase he as carrying accidentally detonated while the bus was passing through London's theater district.  Scotland Yard, meanwhile, said it believes it has discovered, in city raids, large caches of explosives and bomb making equipment.