A former IRA prisoner has been barred from travelling to the US to promote a book critical of Sinn Fein.

Author Anthony McIntyre , who served 18 years in Long Kesh for the murder of a UVF member, was due to travel to New York shortly for a national book tour.

But his American publishers, Ausubo Press, last week revealed the State Department in Washington had refused numerous visa applications.

McIntyre resigned from Sinn Fein in protest at its signing of the Good Friday Agreement and went on to found a website opposed to the party's leadership.

His new book — Good Friday: The Death of Irish Republicanism — is a collection of writings about events surrounding the signing of the Agreement.

Ausubo Press yesterday said they were astonished by the ban on McIntyre.

“We had no idea a simple book launch or a book tour in the states was not possible,” said a spokesman.

“It means US readers will be denied the opportunity to meet Mr McIntyre and learn first-hand about the situation in Northern Ireland. If Gerry Adams and Ian Paisley can travel to the US to discuss the ‘progress’ being made in Northern Ireland as a result of the Good Friday Agreement, why can't Mr McIntyre?”

McIntyre was released from jail in 1992, having spent several years on the blanket protest, which started in 1976 when the IRA prisoner Kieran Nugent refused to wear prison uniform.

He went on to complete a PhD in republican history at Queen’s University and set up the Blanket website with his American-born wife.

The website, which offered a platform for republicans opposed to Sinn Fein's involvement in the peace process, folded earlier this year after seven years and 25 million hits.

Ausubo boss William Cadiz said he hoped to organise a New York book launch, where McIntyre will speak via telephone or videolink.

The publishers said it was unlikely Mcintyre would be given a visa as long as George Bush was in the White House.

A spokesman said: “The refusal is based upon his felony conviction. As he is not a politician going to the US on ‘peace processing’ business, he does not get a waiver to entry despite his conviction, as other convicted IRA members have.

“He could apply again, but the likelihood of his being able to enter the States is slim to none, given both his record and the political climate.

“We expect the status quo to remain in place.”