Enoch Burke to remain in prison past 650-day mark after again refusing to purge his contempt

ENOCH BURKE WILL remain in prison after refusing to obey a court order banning him from trespassing at Wilson’s Hospital School.

He appeared in front of the High Court this morning and was given the opportunity to purge his contempt of court, which would allow him to leave prison.

The former history and German teacher has been engaged in a legal dispute with the Co Westmeath school since 2022.

The High Court ruled in May 2023 that Burke’s suspension by Wilson’s was lawful after he voiced objections to a request by the school’s principal to refer to a student, who was transitioning at the time, by a different name and pronouns.

In July 2023, Judge Alexander Owens also made an order restraining Burke from trespassing at the premises of the school in Multyfarnham, Co Westmeath, but said that he was not prevented from attending outside the school gates.

The judge said that Burke had defied court orders and the board by attending the school following his suspension.

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Burke has consistently claimed that the direction was a breach of his rights, and his religious beliefs, under the constitution. He has spent more than 650 days in prison after he was found to have violated court orders instructing him not to trespass at the school.

Burke appeared in court via video link today, four years to the month since the dispute first began.

“I shouldn’t be in prison, I should be in my classroom, I should be with my students, I shouldn’t be here,” Burke said.

Asked by Judge Brian Cregan if he would return to the school if released from prison, Burke replied: “I have faithfully attended at my workplace for eight years, that is not trespassing.”

Cregan told him: “You know perfectly well that you are in breach of a High Court order.

“It is clear, Mr Burke, you don’t want to purge your contempt.”

He said Burke could be released at prison at any stage if he committed to staying away from the school.

“The school doesn’t want you in prison, the court doesn’t want you in prison,” the judge added.