Gardaí have been tasked with finding Enoch Burke and bringing him back to the High Court, where he faces being sent back to jail.
The court heard he had again visited his former school in Co Westmeath on Friday morning, August 30, in defiance of a court order to stay away.
He was said to have left the school in a car at around 11 am – but he then failed to attend the court in Dublin, 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."
August 30, 2024: Enoch Burke's mother Martina (L) and sister Ammi (R) at the High Court in Dublin. (RollingNews.ie)
Enoch Burke has already been jailed twice for breaching orders to stay away from Wilson’s Hospital School, where he used to teach German and history.
He was suspended in the summer of 2022, following his reaction to being asked to call a transitioning student by a new name and the pronoun "they"– something he said was against his religious beliefs.
The High Court has since ruled that his suspension for gross misconduct was lawful, and has ordered that he not trespass on or attempt to enter the school grounds.
He was warned in June, when he was released from Mountjoy after more than 400 days in jail and, that he if returned to the school, he would find himself back behind bars.
Despite that warning from High Court Judge Mark Sanfey, he returned to the school last Thursday, and has continued to attend there.
Rosemary Mallon, the school’s barrister, on Friday outlined sworn statements from John Rogers, the chairman of the school board, and from John Galligan, acting principal.
Mr. Rogers said Mr. Burke had walked into a teachers’ meeting about transition year planning last Thursday, August 22, and that 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 12:40 pm, but Mr Burke stayed "half in, half out" of the door until around 3 pm.
During that time, Mr. Galligan had to stay with him, and Mr. Burke was visible to parents and children, the court heard.
The following day, as students collected their Leaving Certificate 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, he said.
"His attendance at the school is disruptive, and entirely in breach of the court order," Mr. Rogers said.
Mr. Rogers said the board did not want to engage in further litigation with Mr. Burke, and that Gardaí were not willing to take action.
He said they had seriously considered hiring a private security firm to police access to the school, "but as chairman of the board I cannot countenance the school being turned into some kind of prison."
He said he was aware that neither being jailed nor fined had altered Mr. Burke’s behaviour, but he said prison was the only way to prevent his attendance at the school.
The decision was not made lightly, he added, and the school would support "any other reasonable option."
John 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 Mr. Burke’s presence was causing anxiety to staff and students, and the only way to prevent his attendance was by jailing him.
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.
The school had a duty of care to its staff and students, Mr. Galligan said.
He 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.
One woman had shouted at him from her car after she refused to leave, and he had been forced to stand between her and Mr. Burke to interrupt their lengthy conversation, he recalled.
He said he was "deeply concerned" about the impact of such people on staff and students, and said he had to keep health and safety in mind.
Ms. Mallon concluded: "It is telling that Mr Burke was on school premises this morning."
Judge O’Donnell said he was satisfied that Mr. Burke had a case to answer for contempt of court, but said 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.
*This article was originally published on Extra.ie.
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