Martina and Ammi Burke arrested at Castlerea Prison over contempt ruling

Mother and daughter Martina and Ammi Burke have been arrested by gardaí as they attempted to visit Enoch Burke at Castlerea Prison, the Irish Times is reporting.

The pair have been detained, and were due to be committed to prison for a two-week sentence, almost a month after warrants for their arrest and committal were issued by the High Court.

Gardaí had been trying to find the two women by gathering intelligence and also watching people they may try to meet or visiting locations they are linked to, including their family home just outside Castlebar, County Mayo, Conor Lally wrote this afternoon.

However, neither woman was located until Tuesday afternoon when they were detained at Castlerea Prison. It is understood Enoch Burke was due a visit by another person at the time, but his mother and sister turned up, resulting in their arrests.

Gardaí were alerted to their presence at the jail and arrested them as they exited the prison campus.

In the High Court on March 4th, Judge Brian Cregan found Martina and Ammi Burke guilty of contempt “in the face of the court” over their behaviour – “roaring and shouting” and “intense and venomous” interruptions – that led to a February 20th hearing being suspended.

The judge ordered the Garda to arrest the women for committal to prison to serve a two-week sentence he imposed as a sanction for their contempt.