The chairman of Derry City Council's marketing committee has been refused entry to the United States because he has a conviction for firearms offences.
Cllr Barney O'Hagan was to have accompanied Mayor Shaun Gallagher (SDLP) and council officials on a four-city tour of the US next week to promote Derry as a destination for tourism and inward investment.
However, the US authorities informed him yesterday that his visa application to enter the country has been turned down because of his conviction.
Cllr O'Hagan, who is serving his second term as marketing committee chairman, said that Sinn Féin planned to appeal the decision on his behalf.
He was arrested in 1996 and sentenced the following year to six years' imprisonment following his conviction for firearms offences. He was then released in 1998 under the terms of the Belfast Agreement.
"I had hoped to go to the United States next week to promote Derry as a venue for inward investment and tourism. The delegation is visiting San Jose, Boston, Seattle and Miami over a two-week period. In my visa application, I informed the US authorities that I had been jailed because of the conflict here and my visa application was refused based on information I freely gave.
"I am obviously disappointed that it has been refused. As chairman of the marketing committee I am duty-bound to promote Derry in terms of inward investment and tourism and now I will not be able to do that next week.
"Sinn Féin will be appealing the decision on my behalf and I would hope that the authorities in the United States will be open to reconsidering my application", said Cllr O'Hagan.
However, DUP Cllr Gregory Campbell said the refusal was an embarrassment for the council.
"The reputation of the north-west has been tarnished internationally because of this man's terrorist conviction.
"As a former chairman of the marketing committee myself I realise the importance of this promotional tour.
"This incident yet again shows the contradiction between terrorism and democracy and it also highlights the duplicity and hypocrisy of having a convicted terrorist in such a responsible position", he said.