A security guard, hired at a cost of €763 per week, has been tasked with preventing teacher Enoch Burke from entering Wilson’s Hospital School in Co Westmeath, the High Court was informed, reports Breaking News.
The school intends to seek an order to make Mr. Burke responsible for these costs, in addition to approximately €225,000 in daily fines imposed by the court for his violation of orders prohibiting him from attending the school, from which he claims he was wrongfully dismissed.
Mr. Burke was absent from a hearing addressing his ongoing contempt of court, with his brother Isaac stating that Enoch did not attend because he was “at his place of work” (Wilson’s Hospital), reports Breaking News.
In September, a judge opted against re-imprisoning him, noting it would “fuel and publicity to his perverted sense of justice,” and instead recommended hiring private security to bar his entry. Mr. Burke has already served over 500 days in prison for repeatedly breaching court orders.
He resumed attending the school at the start of the term, despite facing a disciplinary panel that will determine whether he should be dismissed, reports Breaking News.
The court heard that a decision is pending on when a new disciplinary panel will convene, though Mr. Burke has again objected to one of its members.
He alleges that the school violated his constitutional and religious rights by requiring him to use “they/them” pronouns and a new name for a transgender student, reports Breaking News.
On Tuesday, Rosemary Mallon BL, representing the school board, informed Mr. Justice Brian Cregan that, following the September judicial suggestion, a security guard was employed starting Monday to prevent Mr. Burke from accessing the school premises.
Counsel reported that on Monday, the guard recognized Mr. Burke in a car approaching the school. Despite attempts to stop the vehicle, it entered, and after parking, Mr. Burke exited. The guard instructed him to leave, but he refused, and gardaí were called but did not attend, she said, reports Breaking News.
On Tuesday morning at around 10:30am, the car, with Mr. Burke and others including the driver, approached again and was stopped. Mr. Burke exited and attempted to enter the school but was blocked.
Ms. Mallon noted that gardaí attended, and no further updates were available before the court hearing. She requested an adjournment to allow the school to gather more details, as it was unclear whether the situation would help or escalate matters, reports Breaking News.
She added that it remains uncertain whether the Department of Education will provide a grant for the security costs, which are currently being covered by other school funds.
Mr. Justice Brian Cregan raised the issue of whether Mr. Burke’s actions, by entering the school despite being barred, could constitute forcible entry, potentially a criminal offense, reports Breaking News.
He suggested that if others were involved, they might be aiding and abetting, and the car used could face sequestration, as the school can identify the parties involved.
Isaac Burke claimed to the judge that the assertion Mr. Burke bypassed security on Monday was inaccurate, reports Breaking News.
The judge responded that Isaac had no right to speak in court as he is not a solicitor, advising that Enoch could submit an affidavit to address this and other matters.
After inquiring about the disciplinary appeal, the judge learned from Ms. Mallon that a three-person panel had been agreed upon by the school, and a hearing date was requested, but no response had been received. The appeal body is independent of the school, she said, reports Breaking News.
The judge directed Ms. Mallon to inform the appeal panel that the court expects a reply by the next hearing.
The case was adjourned until the following week, reports Breaking News.
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