Wilson’s Hospital School in Co Westmeath is initiating fresh legal action to have teacher Enoch Burke arrested and imprisoned for violating court orders through trespassing on the school premises.
Mr Burke was freed from Mountjoy Prison yesterday afternoon, reports RTE.
He had been incarcerated in November for contempt of court and has now accumulated more than 560 days in prison since September 2022.
Mr Justice Brian Cregan ordered Mr Burke’s release to enable him to ready himself for a legal challenge he is pursuing against a Disciplinary Appeals Panel reviewing his dismissal from the school, reports RTE.
Mr Burke stated he did not require release to prepare for the case and declared his intention to return directly to the school, which he called his workplace, this morning.
Barrister Rosemary Mallon informed the court that within less than 24 hours of his release, Mr Burke had gone back and trespassed on the school property, reports RTE.
She explained that Mr Burke had reached the gates at approximately 9.30am.
He had proceeded onto the school grounds and the principal had personally observed him standing several feet beyond the gate, reports RTE.
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There was also a photograph capturing him inside the school grounds.
Ms Mallon noted that a group of protesters carrying placards and two flags had assembled at the gates.
Some of them, she added, had also crossed through the gates, reports RTE.
She stated the school was worried about the health and safety hazards created by these protesters.
Ms Mallon described the school as being placed in a “really invidious position”, reports RTE.
She pointed out that the court had explicitly instructed Mr Burke that his release was solely to prepare for litigation and that he must not trespass.
Mr Justice Cregan confirmed he had made this “crystal clear” and that Mr Burke was fully conscious of the condition, reports RTE.
However, Ms Mallon said Mr Burke had chosen this morning to “once again ignore the rule of law”, reports RTE.
She mentioned that school teachers had faced difficulties entering the school due to the protesters.
While individuals have the right to protest outside the gates, she said it was highly questionable whether such intense protesting would occur without Mr Burke’s presence, reports RTE.
Mr Justice Cregan authorised the school to serve notice of the attachment and committal proceedings on Mr Burke via email.
He indicated he anticipated seeing Ms Mallon and Mr Burke return to court at 2pm tomorrow, reports RTE.
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