Members of the Burke family were forcibly ejected from the gala dinner hosted by the Ireland Funds in Washington DC, after they interrupted the event to protest about the jailing of Enoch Burke.
They earlier held placards outside the event saying “St Patrick’s Day – no religious freedom in Ireland”.
The family shouted: “Enoch Burke in prison for 513 days for not accepting transgenderism” and accused Taoiseach Micheál Martin of “imprisoning” Mr Burke, and said that the Irish government was “stripping Enoch Burke of his salary”.
Teacher Enoch Burke has been jailed repeatedly for continuing to attend Wilson’s Hospital School in Co Westmeath in defiance of a court order, after being suspended by the school in a row over transgenderism.
Mr Burke says his suspension was unlawful. The Attorney General has said that he will ask the High Court to garnish Mr Burke’s wages to collect the fines – now increased to €1400 per day, and amounting to more than €80,000 thus far – owed by Mr Burke for continuing to turn up at the school.
An Taoiseach and several members of the United States Congress were attending the black-tie fund-raising even, which raised €1 million for the fund,
The Burke family, who are understood not to have had tickets for the gala dinner but managed to access the event, were quickly surrounded by security staff and some members of the Department of Homeland Security Police when they began their protest.
As they were dragged away, a security guard, Martina Burke and Isaac Burke fell to the floor, and Mrs Burke lost one of her shoes.
Isaac Burke was dragged protesting from the building by security guards. Outside, Ammi Burke could be seen without shoes as the family continued to protest, before walking away.