This morning, Enoch Burke, the former teacher at Wilson’s Hospital School in Co Westmeath, arrived outside the school attempting to gain access to the grounds. This occurred just one day after his release from Mountjoy Prison on Wednesday, following a High Court order.
The long-running dispute stems from Burke’s refusal in 2022 to comply with a school directive regarding a student’s gender identity (use of preferred name and pronouns). This led to his suspension and eventual dismissal from the school in 2023. Burke has maintained that attending the school is his “duty” and refuses to accept the dismissal or related court orders prohibiting him from trespassing on the premises.
He has been imprisoned multiple times for contempt of court due to repeated breaches of injunctions barring him from the school property. Most recently, he was jailed in late November 2025 and had spent around 550 days in prison across various periods since 2022.
Yesterday, Mr Justice Brian Cregan ordered Burke’s release from Mountjoy Prison. The judge described Burke’s issues with the Disciplinary Appeals Panel (DAP)—which is reviewing his dismissal—as “substantive” and “credible.”
– The release was granted for “one reason and one reason only”: in the interests of the administration of justice, to allow Burke time to properly prepare his legal challenge against the DAP.
– The order was strictly conditional: Burke must not trespass on school property. The judge explicitly warned that any breach would prompt the school to return to court immediately, and he would have “no hesitation” in returning Burke to prison.
– During the hearing and upon release, Burke repeatedly stated his intention to return to the school, telling media outside the prison that he planned to attend the next day (January 15).
Mr Burke appeared outside Wilson’s Hospital School on the morning of January 15 and spoke to the media there. He has not been reported as having successfully entered the grounds, but his presence directly tests the conditions of his release. The DAP proceedings remain paused pending the outcome of his injunction application, with the matter scheduled to return to the High Court around January 21,.
This episode highlights the ongoing standoff: the courts have upheld the school’s position and the trespass order, while Burke continues to challenge the process and assert his right to return to work. The case has drawn significant attention due to its duration, the repeated imprisonments, and broader debates around gender identity policies in schools, employment rights, and contempt enforcement. Further court appearances are expected soon.
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