Emotional Enoch Burke returns to school and says: 'My students are happy to see me'

Emotional Enoch Burke returned to the school he was sacked from as he slammed the government for taking "every single penny" of his.

The teacher could be facing another stint in prison as he once again showed up to his old workplace Wilson's Hospital School in Westmeath as it reopened after the summer holidays. 

He has already spent over 500 days in prison for being in contempt of court after he was ordered to stay away from the school.

Mr Burke was also issued with daily €700 and €1,400 fines for entering the school's property, and The High Court permitted the seizure of money from his bank account to pay the fines. 

 

More than €40,000 has been seized from the schoolteacher's account.

Speaking to the Irish Mirror outside the school today, Mr Burke got emotional as he said: "This is where I should be today". The former German and History teacher returned to the school on Thursday as it reopened for incoming first year students.

He continued: "Not only do I have to stand in the corridor and be stopped from teaching and doing my duty but my salary is being stripped off me. I still get paid, I have in my pocket here my payslip, I am still under payroll.

"This is my salary, this is what I am entitled to, every penny of this is being diverted from my account because of the Attorney General Rossa Fanning of this government."

The teacher was suspended in August 2022 and dismissed five months later after clashing with management over direction to use they/them pronouns for a pupil.

Mr Burke is still being paid his full teaching salary, pending an outcome of an appeal over his sacking. As money is being drained from his account, the Mayo man said his family are supporting him.

He said: "He (Rossa Fanning) would leave me without any clothes on my back or shoes on my feet. I have a family, I am grateful for the support of my family, those who know me know I am a person of integrity and morals.

"The government has a lot of money and gives money to a lot of different causes but its priority is to take every single penny from people who have a religious belief and a conscientious objection to something that is wrong.

"Rossa Fanning's desire is that I would be essentially hungry and thirsty now and barefoot walking down the street."

A parent of a child in the school told this paper that Mr Burke was waiting inside the school yesterday as it was lashing rain outside. 

Asked if anyone talks to him while he waits at the school all day, the former teacher said: "My students know me, I have been teaching here for four years and they have always been gracious to me and glad to see me back, welcoming me back. I suppose for the board and the principal that's a matter for them to answer."