Despite being dismissed from his teaching post last week, Enoch Burke appeared at Wilson’s Hospital School yet again at 8:35am today, Tuesday, January 24.
His father, Seán, was spotted dropping him off at the school in Co Westmeath around 8:30am. Two uniformed gardaí arrived at the school in an unmarked car shortly after and the teacher was later escorted out in the back of an unmarked Garda vehicle.
And he’s gone. Enoch Burke leaves Wilson’s School in the back of an unmarked Garda vehicle. pic.twitter.com/Ia4rPFvILm
— Fiachra Gallagher (@fiachragllagher) January 24, 2023
After months of conflict between Enoch Burke and the school, he was dismissed from his teaching position last week following a disciplinary hearing where his family behaved erratically.
Burke was notified of the decision in person and his dismissal was witnessed by the board of management chairperson and school principal.
He was first suspended on paid administrative leave for his alleged conduct at a school event in June, where he harassed the former school principal and publicly disputed a trans student’s ‘they/them’ pronouns.
After repeatedly ignoring the court orders which restrained him from visiting the property, he was jailed for contempt of court orders in September. He was released in December and began attending the school again on January 5th following the Christmas holidays.
The court was prepared to grant Mr Burke an injunction against the school’s disciplinary process against him, if the teacher agreed to comply with the order to stay away from school grounds. However, he claimed that this was in violation of his constitutional rights and has continued to show up regularly.
Burke was subsequently denied the injunction because of his refusal to follow court orders to stay away from Wilson’s Hospital School.
Wilson’s Hospital School students shared a letter that the student council wrote to Mr Burke expressing their concern about his presence at the school. They outlined how his disruptive behaviour is negatively impacting their learning experience.
The council noted that LGBTQ+ students are especially uneasy since his presence “is a daily reminder of the prejudices they feel”.
The High Court is expected to review a case regarding his ongoing dispute with Wilson’s Hospital School this week. The school has asked the court to consider fining Burke over his refusal to comply.
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