A HIGH COURT judge has suggested that Enoch Burke could be forced to pay for a security guard who has been hired to keep him away from the grounds of his former employer.

The court heard today that Wilson’s Hospital School has hired a security guard in a bid to stop Burke trespassing on its grounds, following a recommendation by a judge last month.

Barrister Rosemary Mallon, acting for Wilson’s, told the court that the security guard started working yesterday at a cost of €763 a week, which she described as “very difficult for the school”.

She said that Wilson’s has met with the Department of Education to request funding to hire the security guard, and expects to hear back about this shortly. 

However, Judge Cregan suggested that the court could make Burke – who was not in court today – liable for the cost of security instead of paying €2,000 fines to the State. 

At a previous hearing, it emerged that Burke owes the State €225,000 as a result of fines imposed on him every time he attends the school, because of his failure to obey a court order to stay away from Wilson’s.

Burke has continued to attend the school since that hearing, including this week when the security guard attempted but failed to stop him from entering the school.

Mallon told that the security guard recognised a car Burke was travelling in yesterday and tried to stop it; the car failed to stop and Burke got out at the school and entered the building, where he remained for the day despite requests from security to leave.

The court also heard that Burke trespassed at the school today, despite the security guard successfully stopping the car he travelled to Wilson’s in. 

Judge Brian Cregan told Mallon that Burke’s actions could be considered forcible entry, and that he could potentially be criminally prosecuted as a result. 

He also said the driver of the car could be prosecuted for abetting Burke, and that the car he was travelling could potentially be seized as well.

The case was adjourned until 22 October, following a request from Mallon for more time for the school to assess whether hiring a security guard had any benefits.