The Burke family gate crashed the Ireland Funds gala dinner in Washington DC on Thursday night.
The family had been protesting outside as guests arrived but entered halfway through a speech being made by the head coach of the American football team Washington Commanders, Dan Quinn.
They approached a table in the middle of the floor and Mrs Burke said: “My son is in prison”.
(Image: Niall Carson/PA Wire)
Security and police came over to remove them. At one point, Martina and Isaac Burke both fell to the floor. Martina, Isaac and Ammi Burke spoke to the media outside the event, held at the National Building Museum.
They said they would not speak to Irish media and would only speak to US reporters. However, there were only Irish reporters present.
Mrs Burke said: “You’re talking about family in there. 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.
“My son has been imprisoned for over 500 days for not approving transgenderism. How dare Micheál Martin sit in there? He is fooling the American people.”
Members of Enoch Burke's family are ejected from the Ireland Funds 33th National Gala dinner at the National Building Museum in Washington DC
Members of Enoch Burke's family are ejected from the Ireland Funds 33th National Gala dinner at the National Building Museum in Washington DC (Image: Niall Carson/PA Wire)
She added: “We need President Trump to know the truth.”
Mrs Burke repeatedly said she did not want to speak to the Irish media, accusing them of working for the Irish government and the judiciary.
“The Government and the judiciary are all working together, silencing the people. We are slaves in Ireland. You’re fake journalists – you have no right to be here.”
Issac Burke added: “Enoch Burke was in prison for 513 days.” Ammi Burke claimed: “Micheal Martin is stripping Enoch Burke of his salary.”
President Trump was not at the event. The Burkes refused to answer questions, including what they wanted US President Donald Trump to do for their son or how they funded their trip to the United States.
(Image: Niall Carson/PA Wire)
They also told journalists, including one Irish Mirror journalist, that they should get jobs stacking supermarket shelves.
While they were escorted out of the premises by police, they left the area of their own free will.