Exclusive

SUPERMARKET CREEP

‘Shook’ TD who abandoned Christmas shopping over Enoch Burke family confrontation plans garda move after ‘line crossed’

Rattled TD Alan Dillon admits the incident has left him contemplating whether being in politics was worth the abuse

• Published: 7:00, 29 Dec 2023
• Updated: 17:43, 28 Dec 2023

A POLITICIAN who abandoned his Christmas Eve supermarket shopping as members of Enoch Burke’s family videoed and followed him into the store is to report the matter to the gardai.

Rattled TD Alan Dillon today speaks for the first time about the shocking confrontation with the Burkes and admits it left him “shook” – even contemplating whether being in politics was worth the abuse.

Enoch Burke’s mother Martina and brother Elijah targeted the Fine Gael deputy and former Mayo GAA footballer in a crowded supermarket in Castlebar, on Christmas Eve.

They blocked the Mayo rep’s path on several occasions before the politician eventually abandoned his shopping plans and return to his car.

The 41-year-old told us: “At a time, on Christmas Eve, when people’s minds are elsewhere, they thought it was an opportune time for them to do this, to film it.

“The description of what the Burkes did in terms of impeding where I was intending to go, there were hands around me, there were people trying to obstruct where I was walking to.

“Any citizen in the state should not have to deal with that type of behaviour. I just think it has certainly crossed the line in terms of how we deal with individuals in such a manner.

“It is concerning that they feel that they seem to feel justified that they can shout and roar and ask me to answer questions at a shopping centre on Christmas Eve.”

A video of the Fine Gael man being confronted in the Tesco store in Castlebar was shared on jailed teacher Burke’s X/Twitter page.

Trans row teacher Burke remains in Mountjoy Prison this festive period due to his repeated refusal to purge his contempt of court.

Devout Christian Burke has been jailed for contempt for refusing to stay away from his old college, the Wilson Hospital School outside Mullingar, Co Westmeath.

He was sacked in a row over the use of language for dealing with transgender students.

Mr Dillon told us: “This behaviour for me crossed the line of what public representatives should ever encounter.

“It was appalling to be shouted at in such an aggressive and hostile manner with families with small children nearby.

“The direct physical handling and intimidation were alarming, I’ve dealt with a lot in my sporting career but that was a dreadful situation and I’m just grateful that my children were not present to witness such a disgusting act.

“I was fearful for what may have transpired if some member of the public may have inadvertently intervened.

“Being physically held back and pushed for me is a clear violation of personal boundaries. I will be meeting with An Garda Siochana later this week to discuss the footage postage on social media and steps to avoid a repeat of this disturbing incident.”

Recorded rant

The video shows Mr Dillon being surrounded by the Burke family as he attempted to enter the supermarket on Sunday.

In the video posted on Enoch Burke social media accounts, his mother Martina Burke and her other son Josiah can be seen surrounding Mr Dillon, telling him: “You’re on a six-figure salary. You cannot run away from people.”

Mrs Burke declared: “My son is in prison because of [ Judge] Maire Whelan, appointed to the Appeal Court.”

Mr Dillon can be heard saying, “Listen, guys. It is Christmas Eve.”

The Burkes replied: “Yes it is Christmas Eve and Enoch Burke is in prison.”

The video shows the Burke family standing in front of Mr Dillon as he attempts to enter the supermarket.

They continuously said: “You must answer questions, Alan”.

As Mr Dillon abandoned his shopping plans and returned to his car, the family followed him and continued to make complaints about the judge.

Family’s fury

They said: “You’re a disgrace. You’re on a salary of over €100,000. You have a duty to the people. Denying the people, denying us our constitutional rights.”

Mr Dillon eventually made it to his car and drove away, with the Burkes moaning about the Fine Gael rep “running away”.

Stunned Alan told the Irish Sun: “I will be discussing it with An Garda Siochana later this week.

“In relation to the incident, it was appalling.

“I’ve had many encounters on the sporting field but in my short time in public life, it was nothing short of shocking.

“The disrespect and the intimidation that they presented with at a time when I was doing my day-to-day normal activities as anyone would have done on Christmas Eve.

‘Distasteful’

“Certainly it was very distasteful and something that no public representative should have to deal with.

“For the people who were in the shopping centre at the time, for young people to witness these type of scenes and for myself, thankfully my kids weren’t with me.

“I’ve often said to myself ‘what would have happened if they were?’ Would they (the Burkes) have continued in the manner that they did? You do reflect on your role as a public representative when this type of behaviour is something that we are subjected to.”

The two-time All Star and recently elected chair of Fine Gael parliamentary party said: “There was no getting away from their intentions to obstruct and to intimidate as best they could.

“I think for the general public who were witnessing this I think (leaving) was the best thing that I could have done, go back into my car and get home as quick as possible.

“They’ve posted a video up online, I think it is plain to see what happened, and who instigated it. I’m not sure what they tried to achieve in doing such things.

“It’s hard to process for me when something like that does happen. And then your instinct to react, maybe others would have reacted differently.

Left shook

“It has shook me for a couple of days after it.

“God forbid it could have gone another way and who would have had to pay the price in relation to that?

“I don’t think this type of incident is warranted in any walk of life. And if they have an issue with me, absolutely I’ll deal with them like they way I deal with the general public at large.