Enoch Burke’s appeal against his dismissal from his teaching post descended into chaos after he was removed from the hearing room, reports The Mirror.
It’s understood he was escorted out in Athlone, Co Westmeath on Friday morning by prison officers at the request of the independent chair of the appeal after repeatedly interrupting proceedings, reports The Mirror.
He was reportedly angered by the presence of two lawyers representing Wilson’s Hospital School in Co Westmeath, where he had been employed, during his appeal against dismissal, reports The Mirror.
A three-member Disciplinary Appeal Panel (DAP) had been convened to hear Mr Burke’s challenge to the school’s 2023 decision to dismiss him from his teaching post.
It is understood the school proceeded with its case after Mr Burke, who is currently imprisoned in Castlerea Prison in Co Roscommon for civil contempt, was removed from the room, reports The Mirror.
He was later allowed back into the hearing but was again removed after continuing to interrupt proceedings.
His brother Isaac and mother Martina were also present and were subsequently escorted out by gardaí, reports The Mirror.
The family later shared a video of the incident on X, formerly Twitter, claiming he was denied justice and forcibly removed from the appeal hearing by prison officers, reports The Mirror.
“Enoch Burke’s mother Martina Burke and brother Dr Isaac Burke were also removed by police,” the family said.
They added: “Enoch Burke has now spent over 650 days behind bars after refusing to use they/them pronouns for a student, reports The Mirror,
“These are the third Disciplinary Appeal Panel proceedings in relation to Enoch Burke that have ended in shambles,” reports The Mirror,
In the video, his mother said Mr Burke had been polite and composed but objected to the school having two lawyers present opposite him, reports The Mirror.
She also stated: “Now we have the Garda Siochana getting paid to stand her in the corridor to keep us all out of the meeting,” reports The Mirror,
The former history and German teacher has been involved in a legal dispute with Wilson’s Hospital School since 2022 and was dismissed in 2023.
He was initially suspended after incidents arising from a request by the school’s then-principal regarding addressing a student by a new name and pronoun, and was later dismissed from his role, reports The Mirror.
The current DAP is the third panel convened and includes chair Claire Callanan, John Irwin and Seamus Lahart.
Mr Burke had previously failed in a legal attempt to block the appeal hearing on Thursday, reports The Mirror.
Gardaí have been contacted for comment, reports The Mirror.
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