LAST UPDATE | 25 Jan 2023
ENOCH BURKE HAS left the area of the school where he formerly taught after standing outside of it for hours.
Burke was driven onto the grounds of Wilson’s Hospital School in Co Westmeath this morning around 8.45am before being stopped by a staff member outside a building.
He remained standing outside for the duration of the school day. He was picked up again in a car this afternoon and departed around 1.15pm
The former teacher returned to the school today despite his arrest by gardaí yesterday, when he twice visited the school days after a statement from the management confirmed that he was being released from his position as a teacher.
He was arrested following the first visit yesterday and later released by gardaí.
There had been months of discord between the school and its former teacher.
Gardaí were called to the scene yesterday after Burke refused to leave.
After being released by gardaí, Burke returned to the school, where he stood outside the main gate.
Burke claimed to reporters yesterday that he has been treated unfairly by school management and that his religious beliefs have been “mocked”.
He further described last week’s disciplinary hearing – which resulted in him being fired – as “a total sham”.
A garda spokesperson confirmed to The Journal yesterday that a man was arrested at the school under the Public Order Act 1994 and taken to Mullingar Garda Station.
“He has subsequently been released pending the submission of a file to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions. An Garda Síochána has no further information available at this time,” a statement noted.
Enoch Burke at Wilson’s Hospital School again this morning. He was taken away by gardai for this yesterday but arrived back at the school around two hours later. pic.twitter.com/MLBPBWTmX5
— Diarmuid Pepper (@Diarmuid_9) January 25, 2023
High Court case
Burke was last week informed of the decision to sack him in person in the presence of the chairperson of the board of management and school principal.
The disciplinary proceedings stemmed from allegations about Burke’s behaviour towards former principal Niamh McShane at a school function last June. Burke claims his suspension related to his opposition to the school’s direction to refer to a student by their chosen name and pronouns.
Last Wednesday, a High Court judge refused to grant Burke an injunction to halt disciplinary proceedings against him after the teacher said he would not comply with a previous court order to stay away from the school.
The court said it would be prepared to grant the injunction if the teacher was prepared to comply with an order granted last September directing him to stay away from the school while he is suspended on pay.
However, Burke informed the court that he would not be complying with the order, which he argued was flawed and in breach of his constitutional rights.
Burke appeared at the school earlier this month on 5 January after he was released from prison and schools reopened post-Christmas despite the court order against him.
The High Court is expected to rule this week on an application by the school to sequester Burke’s assets over his refusal to comply with the order not to attend at the school. The school asked Justice Brian O’Moore to consider either sequestering or removing Burke’s assets or fining him over his refusal to comply.
Contains reporting by Diarmuid Pepper
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