Jailed schoolteacher Enoch Burke, his family has said, has been transferred from Mountjoy Prison in Dublin to Castlerea Prison in Roscommon.
The teacher, who has spent over 600 days in separate periods in jail, was reportedly moved to the medium-security facility in Roscommon on Sunday morning, just over 70km from the Burke family home in Castlebar, reports Breaking News.
In the High Court on Monday, his brother Isaac Burke requested the release of Enoch Burke. He said the teacher had been given no explanation for the transfer from Mountjoy Prison.
Isaac Burke noted that a High Court order issued in January specified that Burke should be detained at Mountjoy, reports Breaking News.
Addressing the court via videolink, Isaac Burke said his brother had consistently maintained that he should not be detained at all. He described how on Sunday, Enoch Burke “without warning or notice was told to gather his belongings, put in a prison van and not told where he was going.” He added that upon arriving at Castlerea Prison around lunchtime, Burke was finally informed of his location.
Isaac Burke emphasised that his brother “was given no reason whatsoever for the move” and argued that this amounted to a matter concerning “the deprivation of liberty,” reports Breaking News.
Justice Brian Cregan stated that he could only note that the issue had been raised before him. He said there was no evidence before the court confirming Burke’s transfer, though he did not doubt Isaac Burke’s account.
The judge noted that Burke could submit an application to the court on Tuesday morning supported by a brief affidavit outlining the situation, reports Breaking News.
Burke himself told the judge that his brother was indeed in Castlerea Prison and suggested it was concerning that a court order may have been allegedly breached by prison authorities.
Justice Cregan confirmed he would hear any application submitted on the matter, explaining that it could be supported by a short affidavit summarising the facts. He said the application could be heard on Tuesday, reports Breaking News.
Isaac Burke expressed concern over what he described as a potential unlawful detention.
At one point on Monday, Justice Cregan indicated he would issue a production order to allow Enoch Burke to join the High Court via video link on Wednesday, when a judgment in his case is expected, reports Breaking News.
Enoch Burke was dismissed from his post at Wilson’s Hospital School, Co Westmeath, over his conduct toward the then principal at a school religious event in June 2022. The principal had previously requested that teachers address a student by a new name and use the pronouns “they” and “them.”
Burke has repeatedly breached a court order to stay away from the school and had been incarcerated at Mountjoy Prison for contempt of court. He has spent more than 600 days in jail in separate periods, reports Breaking News.
He has consistently claimed that his imprisonment relates to his religious beliefs and views on transgender issues, a claim that several High Court judges have rejected.
Last Friday, Justice Cregan informed Burke’s mother, Martina, and sister, Ammi, that he was invoking the court’s contempt jurisdiction against them following disturbances in his courtroom, including shouting.
The judge reserved judgment on that matter until Wednesday, reports Breaking News.
Justice Cregan also said he would issue a decision on Burke’s claim of perjury in an affidavit sworn by the former chairman of the DAP hearing concerning his appeal against dismissal from Wilson’s Hospital School.
Separately, Burke is seeking permission from the Court of Appeal to challenge a High Court judgment issued nearly three years ago that barred him from returning to the Co Westmeath school, reports Breaking News.
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