The management of Wilson’s Hospital School is seeking to have former teacher Enoch Burke jailed once more for breaching court orders that prohibit him from entering the school grounds in Co Westmeath, reports RTE.
The High Court was informed that Mr Burke’s presence at the school was disrupting the beginning of the new academic year.
Ms Justice Nessa Cahill heard that Mr Burke had returned to the school premises, taking selfies with students and allegedly promoting a negative example by showing he could disregard court rulings, reports RTE.
Legal counsel representing the school stated that Mr Burke had only refrained from appearing at the school during periods when he was imprisoned or when the school was on holiday.
He resumed his visits with the start of the current term, counsel further noted.
Mr Burke had been suspended from his teaching position in 2022 and was eventually dismissed, reports RTE.
Despite this, he repeatedly showed up at the school, in violation of court orders, for which he has already served multiple jail terms.
The court was told that Mr Burke’s bank account is still receiving his salary while his appeal against dismissal is ongoing, but the funds are being withdrawn, reports RTE.
A receiver monitoring the account through the Courts Service has tracked it growing to €70,000 and noted it continues to rise.
It was outlined to Ms Justice Cahill that Mr Burke persisted in attending Wilson’s Hospital School despite a High Court order requiring him to stay away, and when approached by the principal or staff, he would respond that he had arrived for work, reports RTE.
The High Court previously upheld the school’s decision to place Mr Burke on paid leave in August 2022 as appropriate.
He maintains the action was illegal and driven by his resistance to policies promoting transgender rights, specifically after the school instructed staff to refer to a past student using the “they” pronoun, reports RTE.
Mr Burke has served several months in prison due to defying court directives and maintains he is not in contempt.
He argues that his imprisonment was unjust and rooted in his opposition to transgenderism.
Ms Justice Cahill approved short notice for a legal motion scheduled for next Thursday, seeking to have Mr Burke detained and committed to prison once again, reports RTE.
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