PSNI probe church incident where Burke family confronted education official
By Gráinne Ní Aodha, PA
Police in Northern Ireland are carrying out inquiries into an incident where members of the Burke family accosted a DUP councillor outside a Presbyterian church.
Mervyn Storey, a former MLA for North Antrim – who is now a councillor, was approached by members of the protesting evangelical Christian family outside the Hebron Free Presbyterian Church in Ballymoney.
In a video posted to one of the Burkes’ social media accounts on Monday evening, Mr Storey – who is the chairman of the Education Authority in Northern Ireland – goes into the church while being asked questions by Martina Burke and her son Josiah.
Ms Burke said they were in a “state church implementing government ideology” and refer to Education Authority guidelines on how to support transgender students.
They are seen standing in the atrium of the church in the 17-minute video filmed by a third Burke family member before being ejected from the building.
A PSNI spokeswoman said: “Police are aware of a video being circulated online and inquiries are being conducted in relation to the matter.”
The Burke family, from Co Mayo, have been known to confront multiple politicians in public places while videoing them.
In March, three members of the family were forcibly removed from a gala dinner in Washington DC attended by Taoiseach Micheál Martin as part of St Patrick’s Day celebrations.
While canvassing ahead of November’s general election, Fine Gael leader and then-taoiseach Simon Harris was accosted by the Burkes in Castlebar, Co Mayo.
They have also been involved in legal disputes in Ireland arising out of the suspension and subsequent dismissal of Enoch Burke from his job as a teacher. He is in the process of appealing against his dismissal.
The long-running dispute stems from incidents related to a request from the then-principal of the school he worked at to address a student by a new name and the pronoun “they”.
Mr Storey has been contacted for comment.