Ireland Burke women sentenced to two weeks for contempt of court in Dublin
Enoch Burke, a man and teacher from County Mayo, was dismissed from Wilson's Hospital School in Co Westmeath in January 2023 after objecting to the school's direction to refer to a student by a different name using the pronoun 'they'. The then principal, woman Niamh McShane, was in attendance for a brief period. Injunctions made in September 2022 restrained Burke from attending the school, and he was jailed for 108 days and fined €700 daily for contempt when he failed to comply. The Court of Appeal unanimously dismissed his appeal in March 2023 during scenes in which six Burke family members were physically removed by gardaí, and his brother Simeon was charged with threatening behaviour. On 4 March 2026, the High Court sentenced his mother Martina Burke and sister Ammi Burke to two weeks in prison each for contempt of court arising from their interruptions at a hearing the previous month.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Charged7 Mar
- In court10 Feb
14 reports - Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced4 Mar
2 reports
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Enoch Burke, a teacher at Wilson's Hospital School in Co Westmeath, was dismissed in January 2023 after objecting to the school's direction to refer to a student by a different name using the pronoun 'they'.
- Where
- The contempt proceedings were heard in the High Court and Court of Appeal in Dublin.
- When
- Injunctions restraining Burke from attending the school were made in September 2022, and the most recent sentencing of Martina and Ammi Burke was on 4 March 2026.
- Cause
- The contempt proceedings arose from repeated interruptions, shouting and physical removal of Burke family members from courtrooms over multiple hearings.
- Charges
- Simeon Burke was charged at Dublin District Court with threatening, insulting and abusive words and behaviour at the Court of Appeal.
- In court
- The Court of Appeal unanimously dismissed Enoch Burke's appeal in March 2023, finding the injunctions validly made and lawful.
- Sentence
- Enoch Burke was jailed for 108 days for contempt and fined €700 daily from 27 January 2023 until he purges his contempt.
- On 4 March 2026, the High Court sentenced Martina Burke and Ammi Burke to two weeks in prison each for contempt of court.
- Investigation
- The judge said he would send papers to the Law Society disciplinary committee about Ammi Burke, a solicitor.
- Other details
- Enoch Burke, a native of County Mayo, has spent over 300 days in prison and was sent back to Mountjoy in October 2024 after refusing to commit to obeying the school exclusion order.
- The Burke family was physically removed from courtrooms on multiple occasions, including February 2023, March 2023, December 2023, and March 2024.
136 statements extracted from the articles
- whatEnoch and Ammi Burke were physically removed from a courtroom by members of An Garda Síochána for interrupting proceedings. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe disruption lasted for two hours. (irishtimes.com)
- whatFour affidavits had been sworn on behalf of the school in respect of the application. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe call over of cases was adjourned for just over 45 minutes to 12.30pm. (irishtimes.com)
- whatEnoch Burke was physically removed by two Garda members. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe Burkes left the Four Courts at about 2.15pm. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe judge sat through his lunch hour to clear the backlog created by the disruption. (irishtimes.com)
- whatMr Burke was jailed for 108 days for contempt arising from his refusal to comply with a High Court order granted in September. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe school says the then principal Niamh McShane was only in attendance for a brief period. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe Burke family interrupted the court with shouting and roaring before the decision was read. (dublinlive.ie)
- whatAll six Burke family members were physically removed by Gardaí. (dublinlive.ie)
- whatOne person was arrested by Gardaí after the family was removed from the courtroom. (dublinlive.ie)
- whatThe case centres on Burke's objection to the school's direction to refer to a student by a different name using the pronoun 'they'. (dublinlive.ie)
- whatThe school argued Burke was suspended due to his conduct at a religious service and subsequent meal at the school the previous year. (dublinlive.ie)
- whatThe school decided to dismiss Burke from his employment earlier in 2023. (dublinlive.ie)
- whatAmmi Burke, her mother and other family members stood and shouted at the judges when Mr Justice Birmingham agreed the case was not about transgenderism. (irishtimes.com)
- whatAmmi Burke was dragged from the court by gardaí. (irishtimes.com)
- whatEnoch Burke and his brother Isaac were the last two family members to be taken from the courtroom, both forcibly removed. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe Burke family was physically removed by gardaí in violent and chaotic scenes. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whatAmmi Burke was the first family member physically taken out of the courtroom. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whatEnoch Burke attempted to grab one of the court benches before being carried out. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whatIsaac Burke sat down on the floor before being dragged out by uniformed gardaí. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whatThe Burke family accused the judges of bowing to Transgendarism and worshipping on the altar of Transgendarism. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whatThe Burke family called the judges a disgrace. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whatThe school had acted in accordance with the 2015 Gender Recognition Act. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whatThe student was to be referred to by a different name and using the pronoun 'they'. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whatThe school argued Burke had been suspended due to conduct at a religious service and subsequent meal at the school the previous year. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whatBurke was placed on paid administrative leave pending a disciplinary process. (irishtimes.com)
- whatA disciplinary hearing on January 19 resulted in the school board of management issuing a notice of dismissal to Burke. (irishtimes.com)
- whatHe was released without purging his contempt. (irishtimes.com)
- whatHe resumed attending at the school on January 5. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe school decided to facilitate the pupil. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe Burke family was physically removed from the court by around a dozen gardaí. (thejournal.ie)
- whatThe court order directed Burke to pay €700 for every day he arrived at the school. (thejournal.ie)
- whatThe school sent an all-staff memo in support of the child, and Burke voiced his dissent. (thejournal.ie)
- whatThe pupil was under 18 and had not applied for a gender recognition certificate. (thejournal.ie)
- whatThe women shouted at GSoc's counsel, Eoin Lawlor BL, and demanded that he leave the court. (thejournal.ie)
- whatWhen gardaí asked the women to leave, they demanded that Lawlor also leave the room. (thejournal.ie)
- whatEnoch Burke was ordered to remain in Mountjoy Prison after refusing to give assurances he would comply with a court order. (gript.ie)
- whatThe High Court ordered the immediate arrest and committal to prison of Martina Burke and Ammi Burke for contempt of court. (rte.ie)
- whereThe women were removed from the Court of Appeal. (thejournal.ie)
- whereBurke failed to comply with an order to stay away from Wilson’s Hospital School in Co Westmeath. (thejournal.ie)
- whenThe women were removed from the Court of Appeal on the day of publication, 8 December 2023. (thejournal.ie)
- whenBurke had been imprisoned for the third time the previous month. (gript.ie)
- whenThe hearing at which the shouting and interruptions occurred was on 20 February. (gript.ie)
- causeThe women were removed after entering the courtroom and shouting at barristers and the judge. (thejournal.ie)
- causeThe contempt proceedings concerned shouting and interruptions by both women at a hearing. (gript.ie)
- causeThe women repeatedly interrupted proceedings by shouting and roaring and had to be removed from court by gardaí. (rte.ie)
- investigationThe judge said he would send papers to the Law Society disciplinary committee about Ammi Burke, a solicitor. (rte.ie)
- chargeSimeon Burke of Cloonsunna, Castlebar, Co Mayo, was charged at Dublin District Court with engaging in threatening, insulting and abusive words and behaviour at the Court of Appeal. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeSimeon Burke was charged with threatening behaviour. (extra.ie)
- chargeThe court order would stop Burke attending Wilson's Hospital School in Westmeath. (gript.ie)
- courtMr Justice O'Moore said he would email updated directions to both the school and Mr Burke. (irishtimes.com)
- courtA review by the High Court of the ongoing contempt is due to take place at a later, unspecified date. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe Court of Appeal unanimously rejected all grounds of Enoch Burke's appeal. (dublinlive.ie, leinsterexpress.ie)
- courtThe injunctions granted against Burke were found to be validly made and lawful. (dublinlive.ie)
- courtThe court rose and said it would deliver its decision by electronic means. (dublinlive.ie)
- courtThe High Court imposed a daily €700 fine on Burke until he purges his ongoing contempt. (dublinlive.ie)
- courtBurke had been incarcerated for 108 days for contempt of court. (dublinlive.ie, leinsterexpress.ie)
- courtThe injunctions were originally made by Ms Justice Siobhan Stack and Mr Justice Max Barrett in September 2022. (dublinlive.ie)
- courtThe full hearing of the legal dispute over Burke's suspension is due to be heard by the High Court at a later date. (dublinlive.ie, leinsterexpress.ie)
- courtThe Court of Appeal dismissed Enoch Burke's appeal against court orders preventing him from teaching or attending a Co Westmeath school. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe three-judge court dismissed the appeal in three separate judgments. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe delivery of judgments was interrupted twice and the court ultimately delivered the judgments electronically. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe COA panel consisted of Mr Justice George Birmingham, Mr Justice John Edwards and Ms Justice Máire Whelan. (irishtimes.com)
- courtAfter Mr Burke resumed attending the school on 5 January, the school obtained orders imposing fines of €700 daily from 27 January until he purges his contempt. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe fines stood at €28,000 on the day of the hearing. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe injunctions against Burke were found validly made and lawful. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- courtThe court agreed with High Court findings by Mr Justice Max Barrett that the injunction was not about Transgendarism. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- courtThe CoA agreed with Ms Justice Eileen Roberts' finding that the injunction was not an attack on Burke's religious rights. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- courtMr Justice Edwards said the appeal is not fundamentally about transgender people or gender identity. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- courtThe injunctions were made by Ms Justice Siobhan Stack and Mr Justice Barrett. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- courtThree judges agreed in separate judgments that the appeal should be refused. (irishtimes.com)
- courtAll three appeal court judges ruled there was evidence to support the injunctions and the balance of convenience favoured granting them. (irishtimes.com)
- courtMr Justice Birmingham said his own view is that the case is not about transgender rights. (irishtimes.com)
- courtBurke has the option of asking the Supreme Court to hear an appeal against the Court of Appeal decision. (irishtimes.com)
- courtEnoch Burke lost his appeal at the Court of Appeal (extra.ie)
- courtA panel of three judges dismissed the appeal in a 32-page judgment. (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe full judgment was never read out in court due to an interruption and physical altercation involving gardaí. (thejournal.ie)
- courtJustice Birmingham stated the wishes of the child and parents must prevail. (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe court found the school's approach was in accordance with wider public policy as articulated in the Gender Recognition Act 2015. (thejournal.ie)
- courtA judge said Enoch Burke is his own worst enemy. (extra.ie)
- courtTwo family members were removed from court. (extra.ie)
- courtThe judge said it was regrettable that the court had been interrupted again by the Burke family. (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe judge asked for Enoch Burke's microphone to be muted before adjourning the proceedings. (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe matter was adjourned to 15 January, when three judges will hear submissions on the issue. (thejournal.ie)
- courtEnoch Burke's mother and sister were removed from court. (extra.ie)
- courtA High Court judge sent Burke back to Mountjoy Prison. (thejournal.ie)
- courtMr Justice Mark Sanfey had offered to temporarily release Burke from prison. (thejournal.ie)
- courtBurke refused to address the court’s proposal. (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe judge ruled that Burke had made insults against the court and other parties. (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe judge directed that Burke be removed from the court. (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe judge said he had no option other than to send Burke back to prison. (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe Court found in September that Burke had flagrantly breached the July orders. (thejournal.ie)
- courtEnoch Burke was sent back to prison after a heated court hearing. (extra.ie)
- courtThe judge asked Burke on ten occasions whether he would abide by the court order. (gript.ie)
- courtThe judge said Burke had no intention of abiding by the order. (gript.ie)
- courtThe matter was put back for mention on 20 December. (gript.ie)
- courtNeither woman attended the High Court to hear the judgment. (gript.ie)
- courtBoth women had made submissions at a hearing the previous week. (gript.ie)
- courtThe judge found both women were in contempt of court. (rte.ie)
- courtAmmi Burke's interruptions prevented an application by Wilson's Hospital School from being heard. (rte.ie)
- courtThe judge intended to order that Martina, Ammi and Isaac Burke attend future hearings remotely, and gave them three weeks to object. (rte.ie)
- sentenceMr Burke was jailed for 108 days for contempt of the orders restraining him from attending the school. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceThe High Court imposed a daily €700 fine on Burke for failing to stay away from the school. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- sentenceBurke was jailed for 108 days for contempt of the orders restraining him from attending the school. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceHigh Court orders imposed fines of €700 daily from January 27 until he purges his contempt. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceThe fines stood at €28,000 on Tuesday. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceBurke was committed to prison indefinitely, until he purges his contempt. (thejournal.ie)
- sentenceThe High Court imposed a daily fine of €700 on Burke. (thejournal.ie)
- sentenceThe judge said he was sending Burke back to jail with great reluctance. (gript.ie)
- sentenceMartina and Ammi Burke were each sentenced to two weeks in prison for contempt of court. (gript.ie)
- sentenceThe judge issued an order for the women's attachment and committal. (gript.ie)
- sentenceEach woman was ordered jailed for two weeks. (rte.ie)
- otherEnoch Burke is a native of County Mayo. (dublinlive.ie)
- otherThe school decided to dismiss Burke from his employment earlier in the year. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- otherBurke is a native of County Mayo. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- otherSimeon Burke is the brother of Enoch Burke. (extra.ie)
- otherFamily members were forcibly removed from the court (extra.ie)
- otherThe scenes at the court were described as chaotic (extra.ie)
- otherEnoch Burke was making submissions to the court by video-link from Mountjoy prison when the interruption happened. (thejournal.ie)
- otherThe Burkes had lodged complaints with GSoc over their treatment by gardaí at the March hearing. (thejournal.ie)
- otherThe scenes in court were described as chaotic. (extra.ie)
- otherBurke had spent over 300 days in prison. (thejournal.ie)
- otherA scuffle broke out when prison officers were removing Burke from the courtroom. (thejournal.ie)
- otherBurke’s brother was physically removed from the courtroom by gardaí. (thejournal.ie)
- otherBurke has not paid any of the fines imposed on him by the court last year. (thejournal.ie)
- otherBurke continued to be paid his salary while in prison, pending his appeal against dismissal. (thejournal.ie)
- otherBurke claims he is imprisoned because he was punished for his religious belief. (thejournal.ie)
- otherEnoch Burke has been hit with another legal bill after losing a challenge against the High Court. (extra.ie)
- otherBurke was sacked from the school in January 2023. (gript.ie)
- otherEnoch Burke told a court that teachers are afraid to state their beliefs. (extra.ie)
- otherIsaac Burke told the court that his mother and sister were at their place of work. (gript.ie)
- otherThe judge said the family circus could no longer be tolerated in its abuse of the courts. (gript.ie)
- otherEnoch Burke described the judgment as fearful and nefarious. (gript.ie)
- otherThe women were called twice by the registrar and were not in court when the order was made. (rte.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 4 Mar2026Court orders jailing of Enoch Burke's mother and sister
Reports the High Court's 4 March 2026 order for the arrest and two-week committal of Martina and Ammi Burke, the judge's findings, and his plan to have the family attend future hearings remotely.
convicted, Martina Burke, named, irish (judged from name)Martina Burkeconvicted, Ammi Burke, named, irish (judged from name)Ammi Burke - 4 Mar2026Burke women sentenced to two weeks in prison - Gript
Reports the High Court sentencing of Martina and Ammi Burke to two weeks in prison each on 4 March 2026 and the committal order issued when neither woman attended. Their later arrest outside Castlerea Prison on 31 March is a separate event and is not matched to case 10241.
convicted, female, irish (judged from name)convicted, Ammi Burke, female, named, irish (judged from name)Ammi Burke - 13 Dec2024'Teachers are afraid to state their beliefs', Enoch Burke tells court
Only the headline is usable; the article text is template code with no reporting. It does not match any existing case on the details available.
suspect, Enoch Burke, named, irish (judged from name)Enoch Burke - 11 Oct2024Enoch Burke sent back to Mountjoy Prison after refusing to obey court order - Gript
Reports the High Court hearing on Friday 11 October 2024 at which Burke was ordered back to Mountjoy for refusing to commit to obeying the school exclusion order, and that the matter was adjourned to 20 December.
suspect, Enoch Burke, male, named, irish (judged from name)Enoch Burke - 26 Aug2024Enoch Burke hit with another legal bill after losing challenge against High Court
Only the headline is present; the article body is template code with no further details.
suspect, Enoch Burke, named, irish (judged from name)Enoch Burke - 22 Mar2024Enoch Burke Sent Back To Prison After Heated Court Hearing
Only the headline is available. The body contains a template fragment, not article text. The date and location of the hearing are not stated.
convicted, Enoch Burke, named, irish (judged from name)Enoch Burke - 22 Mar2024Scuffles in court as Enoch Burke sent back to prison again for failing to purge contempt
Reports the 22 March 2024 High Court hearing at which Burke was sent back to prison after a heated hearing and a scuffle during his removal. No existing case covers this March 2024 hearing.
accused, Enoch Burke, male, named, irish (judged from name)Enoch Burke - 8 Dec2023Enoch Burke's Mother And Sister Removed From Court Following Chaotic Scenes
The article body is empty template code, so only the headline is available. It reports the removal of Burke's mother and sister from court, with no date, location or outcome given.
accused, Enoch Burke, named, irish (judged from name)Enoch Burke - 8 Dec2023Enoch Burke's mother and sister removed from Court of Appeal for shouting at barristers and judge
Reports the removal of Martina Burke and Ammi Burke from the Court of Appeal on 8 December 2023 during Enoch Burke's hearing by video-link; no charge is reported. It is a separate incident from the March 2023 melee.
suspect, Martina Burke, named, irish (judged from name)Martina Burkesuspect, Ammi Burke, named, irish (judged from name)Ammi Burke - 10 Nov2023Enoch Burke Is His 'Own Worst Enemy', Judge Says As Two Family Members Removed From Court
The article body contains only search-widget template code. Details come from the headline alone, and the article does not state the hearing date, the court or the county.
suspect, Enoch Burke, named, irish (judged from name)Enoch Burke - 8 Mar2023Judge in Burke appeal case says wishes of student and their parents 'must prevail'
Reports the Court of Appeal judgment dismissing Burke's appeal, the chaotic courtroom scenes, and Simeon Burke's arrest; includes key passages from Justice Birmingham's 32-page judgment.
suspect, Enoch Burke, male, named, irish (judged from name)Enoch Burkesuspect, Simeon Burke, male, named, irish (judged from name)Simeon Burke - 7 Mar2023Chaotic Scenes As Enoch Burke Loses Appeal And Family Members Forcibly Removed From Court
Article text is largely website template code; only the headline provides substantive detail confirming the chaotic scenes at the Court of Appeal hearing where Burke's appeal was dismissed and family members were removed.
suspect, Enoch Burke, named, irish (judged from name)Enoch Burke - 7 Mar2023Enoch Burke case is ‘not about transgender rights’, Court of Appeal says
Provides the full reasoning of all three Court of Appeal judges (Birmingham, Edwards, Whelan) in separate judgments, the fine amount of €28,000 as of the hearing, the 108-day jail term, the €700 daily fine from January 27, and the option of a Supreme Court appeal. Confirms the main hearing is case-managed by Mr Justice Brian O'Moore with no date yet fixed.
accused, Enoch Burke, male, named, irish (judged from name)Enoch Burkevictim - 7 Mar2023Enoch Burke's Brother Simeon Charged With Threatening Behaviour
Confirms Simeon Burke, who was arrested during the Court of Appeal hearing, has been charged with threatening behaviour.
accused, irish (judged from name) - 7 Mar2023Violence in Court as Enoch Burke loses appeal to stay away from midlands school in Transgendarism case
Provides a detailed account of the violent scenes during the Court of Appeal hearing, the specific words used by the Burke family, the unanimous reasoning of the three judges, and confirmation that the injunctions remain in place pending the full High Court hearing on the school's dismissal action.
accused, Enoch Burke, male, named, irish (judged from name)Enoch Burkesuspect, Ammi Burke, female, named, irish (judged from name)Ammi Burkesuspect, male, irish (judged from name)suspect, Martina Burke, female, named, irish (judged from name)Martina Burkesuspect, male, irish (judged from name)suspect, Simeon Burke, male, named, irish (judged from name)Simeon Burke - 7 Mar2023One charged after Enoch Burke loses appeal against Wilson’s Hospital School amid chaotic courtroom scenes
Provides full detail on the three-judge Court of Appeal decision, the chaotic courtroom scenes, the history of injunctions and fines (€28,000 accumulated), and Simeon Burke's charge at Dublin District Court.
accused, Enoch Burke, male, named, irish (judged from name)Enoch Burkeaccused, Simeon Burke, male, named, irish (judged from name)Simeon Burkeaccused, Martina Burke, female, named, irish (judged from name)Martina Burkeaccused, male, irish (judged from name)accused, Ammi Burke, female, named, irish (judged from name)Ammi Burkeaccused, male, irish (judged from name) - 7 Mar2023Arrests made amid chaotic courtroom scenes as Enoch Burke loses appeal
Provides full detail of the chaotic courtroom scenes, names all six Burke family members present (Enoch, Ammi, Sean, Martina, Isaac and Simeon), confirms the three-judge panel (Bermingham, Whelan, Edwards) unanimously rejected the appeal, notes the court delivered its decision by electronic means, and confirms one person was arrested after the family was removed.
accused, Enoch Burke, male, named, irish (judged from name)Enoch Burkesuspect, female, irish (judged from name)suspect, male, irish (judged from name)suspect, female, irish (judged from name)suspect, male, irish (judged from name)suspect, male, irish (judged from name) - 10 Feb2023Enoch Burke Removed From Court By Gardai
Article body was unavailable (only website template code present); only the headline confirms Enoch Burke was removed from court by gardaí. This appears to be an earlier removal event, distinct from the 13 February 2023 removal recorded in case 22411, which was described as the second such removal in consecutive sittings.
suspect, Enoch Burke, male, named, irish (judged from name)Enoch Burke - 10 Feb2023Enoch and Ammi Burke removed from High Court by gardaí
First of two consecutive removals (the second on 13 February 2023 is recorded as case 22411). Enoch Burke sought to raise concerns about the school's application to correct statements; both siblings refused to leave and were physically removed by gardaí. The judge adjourned the call over for over 45 minutes and sat through his lunch to clear the backlog.
suspect, Enoch Burke, male, named, irish (judged from name)Enoch Burkesuspect, Ammi Burke, female, named, irish (judged from name)Ammi Burkevictim, Niamh McShane, female, irish (judged from name)Niamh McShane