Thursday, August 22, 2024

Burke returns to Westmeath school despite court order

School teacher Enoch Burke has returned to a secondary school in Co Westmeath, despite losing a High Court action aimed a setting aside an order for him to stay away.

He arrived at Wilson's Hospital School in Multyfarnham, which was open to welcome first-year students for an induction morning.

Last month, Mr Burke lost a High Court action aimed at setting aside the order of May 2023 requiring him to stay away from Wilson's Hospital School.

Mr Burke was released from prison in June having been jailed last September for contempt of court.

His release was ordered after the school had closed for the summer holidays.

He had challenged the original order of May 2023 by Mr Justice Alex Owens who granted Wilson's Hospital a permanent injunction restraining Mr Burke from attending the school.

In a judgment in July, the judge said the sole issue before him was whether or not the court had jurisdiction to entertain the application by Mr Burke to set aside the judgment of Judge Owens.

He said Mr Burke's application "fell so far short of the 'truly exceptional' circumstances in which the court might entertain an application to set aside a final order".

Dismissing the application, the judge said that the school would be entitled to its costs but he would accept written submissions on costs before finalising his orders.