Burke family forces Taoiseach Simon Harris to abandon Mayo event | BreakingNews.ie

Taoiseach Simon Harris was forced to cut short a canvassing event in Castlebar, Co Mayo, due to a vocal protest involving members of the Burke family.

He was challenged by the family of Enoch Burke, the secondary school teacher currently in prison for contempt of court for refusing to stay away from the school where he worked.

Speaking after the incident, Mr Harris criticised “thinly-veiled thuggery” and “toxicity” from a small number of people across the country.

Mr Burke was dismissed by the school amid a row linked to a request for him to use they/them pronouns when addressing a student.

The Taoiseach also faced barracking from protesters in Castlebar about state provision of asylum seeker accommodation in the county.

Minister for Justice Helen McEntee, European election candidate in Midlands-North West Maria Walsh, Mayo TD Michael Ring and former taoiseach Enda Kenny were also present.

Mr Harris dismissed the incidents when asked by reporters.

“Protest has an important role to play in any democracy,” he said.

“I’ve be protested at and I have been on protests during my political during career.

“But there’s a difference between protest and an attempt to, I suppose, significantly disrupt.

“But I think as people know about me, it takes an awful lot to disrupt my energy, and I certainly enjoyed continuing to talk to people in Castlebar, calling into cafes, calling into shops, getting out the message.

“And, look, if people want to people want to participate in democracy they’re very welcome, we have an election on Friday.” – Additional reporting from Press Association