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NORTHERN Ireland politicians present peace in the north to Americans positively or negatively depending on who they are talking to, a leading figure in Irish American relations has claimed.

Trina Vargo, president and founder of the US-Ireland Alliance, said politicians from the north "often come to the US and say two different things to two different audiences".

And she appeared to suggest it came down to those from Northern Ireland trying to squeeze as much money as possible from the United States.

"If I'm the investor, they say that things are great, there's peace, come and invest your money here, it's safe to set up," she said.

"Then they go to Congress and say that it could go back to the old days any day, you better give us some money.

"Nearly 450 people were murdered last year in Chicago in what amounts to gang violence.

"Explain to an American taxpayer why Northern Ireland is a scarier proposition ... this rush to America every time there is an issue I think is demeaning to the people of Northern Ireland," she told the Sunday Business Post.

Ms Vargo founded the US-Ireland Alliance in 1998 and sought money from Congress in 2005 when it appeared the International Fund for Ireland (IFI) was going to be wound down.

She has been an open critic of the fund - which remains to this day - and costs Americans around $20 million (£15.3m) annually.

The IFI was set up 30 years ago and receives money not just from the US, but also the EU, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

Its purpose is to finance activities that would "tackle the underlying causes of sectarianism and violence and to build reconciliation".

The US-Ireland Alliance meanwhile described itself as an organisation that "connects current and emerging Irish and American leaders in various spheres—including education, politics, business and the arts —for the mutual benefit of both countries".

It has a range of corporate and private funders.