Watch: Taoiseach condemns Burke family’s 'regrettable' protest at Washington event
The Taoiseach has criticised the Burke family for protesting at an event in Washington DC, stating they did not go about it in "the proper way".
Members of the Burke family were removed from the Ireland Funds gala dinner by police after attempting to disrupt the event attended by Micheál Martin.
Martina Burke and her children Ammi and Isaac entered the private event and began shouting at the Taoiseach, who was among the guests seated.
“My son is in prison,” Mrs Burke repeatedly shouted before being pulled out.
All three members of the Burke family were dragged out by police officers as they continued to shout, calling for justice for fellow family member Enoch.
Mrs Burke lost a shoe as she fell to the floor while leaving the dinner being held in the National Building Museum.
When asked about the disturbance, the Taoiseach said it was "regrettable" that the incident happened.
"People have a right to protest in a proper way and that is not a proper way, you know, 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," he said.
"It was a night of celebration and recognition for those honourees. But that said, I don't think it had that impact, but we live in a democracy."
Outside the event, Mr Burke remained on the footpath for a number of minutes after the incident and told reporters, “the truth will win out”.
She said: “Micheál Martin, the Taoiseach of Ireland, has imprisoned my son for 500 days for not approving transgender ideology.
“A teacher, an upright, well-intelligent educated young man, mid-30s, imprisoned under the watch of Micheál Martin.
She added: “We need President Trump to know the truth.”
The family had staged a protest outside the event as invited attendees arrived for the dinner earlier in the evening.
When asked about how the family may have gained access to the black-tie event, the Taoiseach said he did not have any concerns about security.
"The security details and arrangements have been balanced, firm, strong, and I've witnessed that myself, so I couldn't fault that," he told reporters in Washington.
He added that NFL coach Dan Quinn, who had been on stage at the time, "handled it in his stride".
Enoch Burke has been jailed multiple times for repeatedly defying an injunction issued last year which ordered him to stay away from Wilson's Hospital School in Co Westmeath. He was dismissed from his position at the school in January 2023.
Although he was dismissed, he continues to be paid his salary by the school on an administrative leave basis because an appeal over his termination is still pending.
The dispute stemmed from incidents over a request from the school’s then-principal to address a student by a new name and the pronoun “they”.
Mr Burke continues to turn up at the school daily and has entered the school buildings on a significant number of days.
He has already spent 512 days in prison during three separate periods over his contempt, was released before Christmas and returned to the school in the new year.
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