The court heard that he had again visited his former school in Co. Westmeath yesterday morning, in defiance of a court order to stay away.
He was said to have left the school in a car at around 11am – but he then failed to attend at the Dublin court, as he had been instructed to do.
His mother, Martina Burke, and sister, Ammi Burke, were present, but were both removed from the courtroom by gardaí, on Judge Barry O’Donnell’s orders, after interrupting the proceedings.
Martina Burke was taken out after shouting: ‘You are imprisoning my son because of his beliefs… This is all because of transgender ideology.’
As she was led away, she called out: ‘Puberty blockers. Abuse. Suicide. No parent wants this.’
Judge O’Donnell said Mr Burke ‘clearly has a case to answer’ in relation to ongoing breaches of the injunction.
He ordered that Mr Burke be brought before the court but said it was preferable that he attend voluntarily, rather than by being arrested by gardaí. A video posted to Mr Burke’s Twitter/X account yesterday showed four gardaí arriving at the Burke family home in Castlebar, Co. Mayo.
His father, Seán Burke, is seen telling gardaí: ‘Enoch went to school this morning. He’s not home yet.’
He adds: ‘I think it’s an absolute disgrace that you’ve come here to arrest my son because he won’t endorse transgenderism. That’s why you’re here and it’s absolutely shameful.’ Asked when Enoch Burke would be home, he replied: ‘I have said all I’ve said to you and that’s all I’m going to say about my son.’
Enoch Burke was suspended from teaching at Wilson’s Hospital School in Co. Westmeath in June 2022 following issues arising from his behaviour and refusal to address a transgender student by their new name and pronouns of ‘they/them’ – something he said was against his religious beliefs.
When he turned up to teach, despite being suspended, the school successfully obtained a court order barring him from the school grounds.
Mr Burke has been jailed twice for breaching orders to stay away from the school, where he used to teach German and history.
The High Court has since ruled that his suspension for gross misconduct was lawful, and has ordered that Mr Burke not trespass on or attempt to enter the school grounds.
He was warned in June, when he was released from Dublin’s Mountjoy Prison, after more than 400 days behind bars, that he if returned to the school, he would find himself back in prison.
Despite that warning from High Court judge Mark Sanfey, he returned to the school last Thursday, and has continued to show up there.
Rosemary Mallon, the school’s barrister, yesterday outlined sworn statements from John Rogers, the chairman of the school board, and John Galligan, acting principal.
Mr Rogers said Mr Burke had walked into a teachers’ meeting about transition year planning last Thursday, August 22, and Mr Galligan had to ask the teachers to end the meeting and leave.
Mr Galligan then opened a side door and asked Mr Burke to leave the school, at around 12.40pm, but Mr Burke stayed ‘half in, half out’ of the door until around 3pm, it was heard.
During that time, Mr Galligan had to stay with him, and Mr Burke was visible to parents and children, the court heard.
The next day, as students collected Leaving Cert results, Mr Burke did not access the school building, but stood near the main gate where he could clearly be seen, Mr Rogers said.
On Monday this week, he again tried to enter the school building, but it was locked, the court heard. Mr Galligan said it was ‘extremely stressful’ to attempt to run the school and at the same time prevent Mr Burke from entering, or to try to monitor where he was.
He said it was ‘unconscionable’ that Mr Burke had walked into the staff meeting, and that he believed it was an ‘intimidating act’ on the former teacher’s part.
Mr Galligan said he understood the presence of journalists at the school gates, but told the court he was concerned about other people, who were not parents, and who seemed to have come in support of Mr Burke.
He said he was ‘deeply concerned’ about the impact of such people on staff and students.
Judge O’Donnell said he was satisfied that Mr Burke had a case to answer for contempt of court, but that he wanted to hear from him before ordering his return to prison.
He said he would make the order allowing gardaí to bring Mr Burke to court.