Isaac Burke, Sean Burke, Martina Burke, and Ammi Burke in March 2023.RollingNews.ie

Family members of Enoch Burke were forcibly removed from the Ireland Funds Gala, a ticketed event where Taoiseach Micheál Martin delivered remarks, in Washington, DC on Thursday night, March 13.

Enoch Burke has spent more than 500 days behind bars and is facing hefty fines for refusing to comply with a court order that he stay away from Wilson's Hospital School in Co Westmeath, where he was sacked from in 2023 following a confrontation with the school principal.

Enoch - and his family - argue that he has been imprisoned for his religious beliefs, but several judges have rejected the notion, arguing instead that he is being imprisoned for his refusal to comply with court orders.

On Thursday night, members of the Irish media at the Ireland Funds Gala took to social media to post clips of Enoch's mother Martina and siblings Ammi and Isaac interrupting the event before they were forcibly removed.

Enoch was not present and is not believed to have traveled to the US with his family.

According to The Journal, the Burkes arrived shortly after Taoiseach Micheál Martin gave his speech at the event.

The Journal notes that it is unclear how the three Burkes gained access, but according to a police officer, they did not have tickets to the event.

According to Irish political correspondent Gavan Reilly, the Burkes interrupted a speech by Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn, who was receiving an award at the dinner.

"That's awesome, it's like being at an Eagles game," Quinn can be heard saying from the stage in one clip, drawing laughs from the crowd.

"Why is Enoch Burke in prison for not accepting transgenderism?" Enoch's brother Isaac can be heard saying in a clip as he was being removed.

While Enoch has spent more than 500 days in prison, he is not currently behind bars.

Seán Defoe, another Irish political correspondent, shared a separate angle of the incident: 

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After being removed, Enoch's mother and siblings offered impromptu comments to the press gaggle that formed. 

"Micheál Martin, the Taoiseach of Ireland, has imprisoned my son for 500 plus days for not approving gender ideology," Martina said.

Enoch's sister Ammi claimed: "And now, he's [Martin's] stripping Enoch Burke of his salary."

Enoch has been receiving his full salary as he appeals his 2023 firing from Wilson's Hospital School in Co Westmeath. He has racked up hefty legal fines as he continues to not adhere to court orders to stay away from Wilson's Hospital School, fines he has yet to pay.

Last week, High Court Justice David Nolan gave the Attorney General ­permission to bring an application later this month to appoint a receiver over Burke’s teaching salary, to deduct the outstanding €79,100 he owes in fines.

Martina told reporters on Thursday that her son is an "upright, sincere, well intelligent, educated young man, mid-30s, imprisoned under the watch of Micheál Martin and his government!"

Another clip shows Martina saying Micheál Martin is "fooling the American people," adding that "the Irish people live in fear."

She continued: "Every single child is taught LGBTQ+ bisexual transgenderism as fact," she said. "It's a sad day for Ireland. We need President Trump to know the truth."

Notably, the Burkes attempted to refuse to engage with the Irish media on Thursday night, save for Martina telling one Irish reporter to get a job "stacking shelves."

While speaking to reporters, the family failed to mention that Enoch was in contempt of court a number of times.

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News that members of the Burke family were en route to Washington, DC emerged on Tuesday when Cuan Ó Seireadáin, a political correspondent for RTÉ's Raidió na Gaeltachta, posted on X that they were on his flight.

The Burkes, including Enoch's father Sean who did not appear to have joined his family members in interrupting the Ireland Funds Gala on Thursday, staged a protest in the vicinity of the White House on Wednesday, the day the Taoiseach was making his rounds.

They hoisted posters saying "no religious freedom in Ireland," "Micheál Martin denies Christian liberties," and "America needs to know the truth."