Sinn Fein TD Ferris fails to get US visa

A US beer named in honour of Gerry Adams has been pulled after it was met with criticism — prompting the brewery behind it to offer a “sincere apology”.

‘Adams’ Best’ is a product from Chicago-based craft beer company Revolution Brewery.

The website said it was “named for Gerry Adams, president of Sinn Fein, who was instrumental in the development of the Belfast Agreement in the late 1990s, which brought a ceasefire to Northern Ireland”.

However, the product made no mention of the former Sinn Fein leader’s association with the IRA. Mr Adams has always denied membership of the IRA, but never distanced himself from the terror group.

It was met with outrage by Ann Travers, whose sister Mary (22) was shot dead by the Provos in Belfast in 1984 as she walked home from Mass with her Catholic magistrate father Thomas.

She has welcomed the recent decision from the company.

The brewery said: “In 2012, we first brewed a Best Bitter ale at our pub, which we named Adams’ Best in reference to Gerry Adams, and have since brewed it on occasion.

“Choosing a name is part of crafting a new beer and provides the opportunity to inspire, but also to offend. Over the last several days, we learned that The Adam’s Best beer was named for the ex-Sinn Fein president

it’s how our lives developed and how it impacts on our lives.

“It’s nice to think that perhaps people can think of the victims.

“For me, the victims are the true heroes of the peace process, not the politicians.

“It’s wonderful that they (the brewery) have listened to victims’ voices and the criticism and the asking to consider victims. On a personal level I’m very grateful.” SINN Fein TD Martin Ferris missed a series of St Patrick’s Day engagements in Boston after US immigration authorities failed to issue him a visa.

The former IRA gun-runner’s connections to the city date back to 1984, when he was caught on board the Marita Ann helping to smuggle guns across the Atlantic.

State papers released in 2014 linked the shipment to the Winter Hill gang made notorious by Irish-American gangster Whitey Bulger.

Ferris, who collected the killers of Garda Jerry McCabe from prison in 2009, was due to attend events in Florida, Kentucky, Ohio and Boston.

The Kerry TD told the Irish Independent he was “still waiting for a decision” from US authorities.

He applied for a visa nine weeks ago.

Last year, Ferris was detained and questioned by US immigration officials when he arrived in Boston for a similar visit.