Members of a controversial evangelical Christian family were evicted from church premises in Co Armagh last week.
Relatives of Co Mayo schoolteacher Enoch Burke had to be removed from the foyer at Tandragee Free Presbyterian Church after trying to confront ministers.
Burke’s brother Josiah, mother Martina and another person were escorted away by PSNI officers, who had been called by officials.
Earlier this month the High Court in Dublin had ordered the arrest and committal to prison of Martina Burke, and Enoch Burke’s sister, Ammi, for contempt of court.
The incident on Friday evening came as the congregation gathered for the official opening of Whitefield College of the Bible, the church’s new centre for the training of ministers.
Enoch Burke has been at the centre of a long-running case in the Republic after he refused to use a transgender student’s chosen pronouns because of his Christian beliefs.
Wilson’s Hospital School in Westmeath suspended him, and then got a court injunction to keep him off the grounds after he kept turning up to protest.
He was eventually sacked for gross misconduct, and has served more than 600 non-consecutive days in prison for trespass and contempt of court.
The Burke family have been appearing unannounced at various events since.
Recently they have targeted DUP members and churches here, arguing he is being persecuted for his religious beliefs. Josiah Burke posted a lengthy statement and a video of the incident in Tandragee to various social media channels.
He alleged he and his mother had arrived in the foyer of the church where they were “blocked by five men and asked to leave”.
The Burkes asked to speak to Free Presbyterian moderator Rev Ian Brown and other ministers following the service.
Josiah Burke claimed when Tandragee minister Rev John Gray saw them he “immediately rushed down the aisle and ordered church elders to refuse entry”, and claimed as they “waited quietly” several elders “tried to force (them) out of the church”.
Four police officers arrived at the scene 30 minutes later.
Josiah Burke added: “The question needs to be asked. Why are these ministers so fearful of questions? Why are they hiding when the Burkes arrive? Why are they running when asked about their beliefs?
“They are running because the opening of this new Bible College is a farce. The leaders of the Free Presbyterian Church have utterly departed from the beliefs upon which that church was founded 75 years ago.
“Rev Ian Brown recently exalted and
‘Why are these ministers so fearful of questions? Why are they hiding’ Josiah Burke
eulogised Charlie Kirk, who was assassinated in the United States on 10 September, 2025. Charlie Kirk was the founder of Turning Point USA, a political and religious organisation which brings together students from different religions and backgrounds.
“Charlie Kirk platformed LGBT speakers at Turning Point events and supported their full inclusion in the conservative movement.
“Mr Kirk was also influential in drawing countless young people into the Roman Catholic Church.
“On September 14, 2025 Ian Brown dedicated a full sermon to the subject of Charlie Kirk’s assassination. He lauded Charlie Kirk as a ‘fantastic apologist’. Numerous ministers of the Free Presbyterian Church paid similar tributes.”
The PSNI said: “Police received a report of anti-social behaviour at an event in the Willowfield area of Tandragee on Friday, 13th March. Officers attended and engaged with the event organisers, and the three people reported to be involved in the antisocial behaviour. The three were asked to leave the building and did so. No further action was taken.”
Last August Assembly Speaker Edwin Poots urged the Burke family “to desist from door-stepping people in church settings” after they turned up at his place of worship.
“It is unbecoming, unbefitting and entirely inappropriate,” he said. In the same month they approached Education Authority chair Mervyn Storey as he attended a Free Presbyterian church service in Ballymoney, accusing the former DUP Education Minister of “promoting transgender ideology” and “enforcing transgenderism in Northern Ireland”.
The Free Presbyterian Church was contacted for comment.