The Taoiseach has described an outburst by an evangelical Christian family from Ireland during a gala dinner in Washington DC on Thursday night as “regrettable”.
Three members of the Burke family were intercepted by security personnel and police as they entered the floor of the Irelarnd Funds dinner during a speech by the head coach of the Washington Commanders NFL team Dan Quinn.
Micheál Martin who was in attendance at the $1,000 a plate event, told reporters on Friday: “I think it didn’t significantly, in any way, kind of disrupt”.
“If anything, I think coach Dan Quinn handled it in his stride. I think it was regrettable that incident happened,” he said.
Read more
“People have a right to protest in a proper way and that is not a proper way to attempt to maybe disrupt an event that was to honour people who have been of such service to Ireland in the US and people of the Irish-American diaspora who really are not involved in anything to do with this issue.”
Members of the family have been involved in protests and legal disputes in Ireland arising out of the suspension of Enoch Burke from his job as a teacher.
On Thursday, relatives of Mr Burke who have been involved in protests and legal disputes since he was suspended from his job, accused the Irish premier and his government of imprisoning the teacher for over 500 days.
His mother Martina, along with her children Isaac and Ammi, said it was “for not approving transgender ideology”.
Members of Enoch Burke’s family are ejected from the Ireland Funds 33th National Gala dinner at the National Building Museum in Washington DC Niall Carson/PA Wire
The Burkes entered the gala and began shouting loudly in protest while Mr Quinn was speaking at the podium as one of the gala’s honourees.
They were removed from the venue by police. It is unclear how they managed to enter the venue.
Speaking outside the National Building Museum, Martina and Ammi were missing footwear after being escorted out.
“My son, an upright, sincere, well, intelligent, educated young man, mid-thirties, imprisoned, under the watch of Micheál Martin and his government,” Martina Burke shouted.
She said Enoch Burke was in prison “with sexual offenders, murderers.”
Members of Enoch Burke’s family are ejected from the Ireland Funds 33th National Gala dinner at the National Building Museum in Washington DC Niall Carson/PA Wire
The Burkes accused the Taoiseach of “deceiving” the American people, and said Irish people are “living in fear”.
“We need President Trump to know the truth,” said Martina Burke. “That Micheál Martin is fooling him.”
Members of Enoch Burke’s family are ejected from the Ireland Funds 33th National Gala dinner at the National Building Museum in Washington DC Niall Carson/PA Wire
The Burkes were then escorted onto the pavement beside the venue and asked police officers for their coats.
Members of Enoch Burkes family are ejected from the Ireland Funds 33th National Gala dinner at the National Building Museum in Washington DC Niall Carson/PA Wire
Members of Enoch Burke’s family picket the Ireland funds dinner in Washington DC Niall Carson/PA Wire
Speaking to Irish media, they then accused reporters of being “fake journalists” and said they would not speak to them.
In a 10-minute long press conference, they refused to answer questions as to how they paid for their trip or if they sought meetings with Trump or Elon Musk, who has endorsed them publicly on his social media site.
Members of Enoch Burke’s family are moved away from the entrance by security as they picket the Ireland funds dinner in Washington DC Niall Carson/PA Wire
Earlier, the family protested outside the National Building Museum and accused arriving Irish journalists of working with the Government and of telling lies.
Father Sean Burke, who was at the protest before the gala kicked off, did not join his wife and children in entering and protesting at the venue later on.
The Burke family would not say why Enoch Burke, who went to prison for contempt of court, was not in Washington DC with them.