Taoiseach downplays gala dinner protest by evangelical Christian family - Micheal Martin said the Burke family’s attempt to enter the floor of the Ireland Funds event was ‘regrettable’.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said the Ireland Funds gala dinner in Washington DC last night was not significantly disrupted by the Burke family's protest at the event.

Members of a high-profile evangelical Christian family from Ireland have disrupted a gala dinner in Washington DC attended by Taoiseach Micheál Martin.

Micheál Martin defended the security arrangements in place at a gala in Washington and the quick action taken by personnel when the family of Enoch Burke crashed the event. The Taoiseach was at the Ireland Funds Gala dinner when the controversial Mayo family stormed the event on Thursday night.

Members of the evangelical Burke family were dragged out of a gala dinner in the US after they broke into the event to accost the Taoiseach. Enoch Burke was jailed for contempt of court after he was ordered to stay away from Wilson’s Hospital School in the midlands;