Wednesday 28 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 0597Contempt of court · Co. Westmeath · 15 Jul 2026

Enoch Burke owes €208,000 in fines for breaching court orders at Wilson's Hospital School

Schoolteacher Enoch Burke has been ordered to pay €208,268 in outstanding fines after breaching High Court orders banning him from Wilson's Hospital School in Co Westmeath. Burke was ordered not to trespass at the school in May 2023 following a four-year dispute over his suspension from his teaching post, and has since spent more than 700 days in prison in separate spells for contempt. On 15 July 2026, Judge Brian Cregan issued a judgment calculating the total fines accrued at €273,200, of which Burke has paid €64,931. He is also facing a disciplinary hearing before the Teaching Council.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court15 Jul
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Schoolteacher Enoch Burke breached High Court orders banning him from Wilson's Hospital School in Co Westmeath.
Where
Wilson's Hospital School, Co Westmeath.
When
Burke was ordered not to trespass at the school in May 2023; Judge Brian Cregan issued the judgment calculating fines on 15 July 2026.
Cause
The school held it had validly suspended Burke from his teaching post; Burke, an evangelical Christian, maintained a pronoun request went against his religious beliefs.
Charges
Contempt of court for trespassing at the school in breach of court orders.
In court
Judge Brian Cregan calculated Burke's outstanding fines at €208,268 in a judgment issued on 15 July 2026.
Sentence
Total fines accrued amounted to €273,200; Burke has paid €64,931; he has spent more than 700 days in prison in separate spells for contempt.
Other details
  • Burke is facing a disciplinary hearing before the Teaching Council.
  • The school's legal costs run into many hundreds of thousands of euro.
  • A receiver was appointed over Burke's assets following further court orders.
8 statements extracted from the articles
  • courtJudge Brian Cregan issued a judgment calculating Burke's outstanding fines at €208,268 (irishtimes.com)
  • courtBurke was ordered not to trespass at the school in May 2023 (irishtimes.com)
  • otherTotal fines accrued by Burke amounted to €273,200 (irishtimes.com)
  • otherBurke has paid €64,931 in fines (irishtimes.com)
  • otherBurke is an evangelical Christian who maintained the pronoun request went against his religious beliefs (irishtimes.com)
  • otherBurke has spent more than 700 days in prison in separate spells for contempt (irishtimes.com)
  • otherBurke is facing a disciplinary hearing before the Teaching Council (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe school's legal costs run into many hundreds of thousands of euro (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 15 Jul2026
    In courtirishtimes.com, first report
    Enoch Burke owes €208,000 in fines arising from Wilson’s Hospital School dispute, court rules

    Reports Judge Cregan's judgment calculating Burke's outstanding fines at €208,268, noting he has spent over 700 days in prison, paid €64,931 in fines, and is facing a Teaching Council disciplinary hearing.

    accused, Enoch Burke, male, named, irish (judged from name)Enoch Burke