Enoch Burke to spend Christmas in Mountjoy as family interrupts court to criticise judges and media

Enoch Burke again refused to give an undertaking to comply with a High Court order to stay away from Wilson’s Hospital School in Co Westmeath

• 14:30, 12 DEC 2023

Teacher Enoch Burke is destined to remain in Mountjoy prison for the festive period after he again refused to give an undertaking to comply with a High Court order to stay away from Wilson’s Hospital School in Co Westmeath.

Mr Burke, after being asked on several occasions by Mr Justice Mark Sanfey if he was prepared to comply with an order to stay away from the school, said compliance with the order would for the “giving up” of his religious beliefs and an endorsement of transgenderism.

During the course of what was a fraught and at times heated hearing on Tuesday Mr Burke and members of his family were directed by the judge to leave the courtroom for interrupting the court.

The judge left the bench on several occasions during the hearing.

Mr Burke and his family voiced their strong criticisms of several judges who have considered and ruled on aspects of the ongoing legal battle and lawyers representing the school board.

The media was also criticised by members of the Burke family. In submissions to the court he said that he was in prison because of decisions made by various judges.

He said that lawyers for the school had been involved in covering up evidence relevant to his case, and made strong criticisms about various judges who had heard and made various rulings in his case.

The judges criticised included Mr Justice George Birmingham, Ms Justice Marie Whelan and Mr Justice Brian O’Moore of the Court of Appeal, and Mr Justice Alexander Owens and Mr Justice Max Barrett in the High Court.

He said that he now spent over 200 days in prison with drug dealers and murderers over his refusal to accept a direction from the school to address a student by a different pronoun.

Mr Justice Sanfey told the teacher that the court was only concerned with whether the teacher was prepared to purge his contempt and give an undertaking to stay away from the school, which would secure his release.