Ireland Enoch Burke sent back to prison for breaching trespass order at Wilson's Hospital School
Enoch Burke, a former teacher, was arrested outside Wilson's Hospital School in Co. Westmeath on 19 January 2026 and ordered by a High Court judge to be returned to prison for repeatedly breaching a court order instructing him not to trespass at the school.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrested19 Jan
- Chargednot reported
- In court16 Jan
2 reports - Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced19 Jan
2 reports
Key facts
consolidated from all reports40 statements extracted from the articles
- whatHe went past the boundary wall before a security man stopped him. (irishtimes.com)
- whatEnoch Burke was arrested outside Wilson's Hospital School (irishmirror.ie)
- whatHe stood outside the gates of the school for a third day (irishmirror.ie)
- whatHe was placed in the back of a Garda car and driven away (irishmirror.ie)
- whatBurke said 'This is all about transgenderism' before being arrested (irishmirror.ie)
- whatBurke went past the boundary wall before a security man employed by the school stopped him (irishmirror.ie)
- whatHe appeared at the school on both Thursday and Friday (irishmirror.ie)
- whatStaff and teachers raised safety concerns about the crowd that gathered at the gate (irishmirror.ie)
- whatEnoch Burke was arrested outside Wilson's Hospital School on Monday morning (corkbeo.ie)
- whatHe had stood outside the gates of the school for a third day (corkbeo.ie)
- whatHe went past the boundary wall before a security man employed by the school stopped him (corkbeo.ie)
- whatBurke turned up at the school on Thursday, Friday and Monday in breach of the court order. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenHe was released from Mountjoy Prison the Wednesday before 19 January 2026 (irishmirror.ie)
- whenHe was released from Mountjoy Prison the previous Wednesday after being imprisoned since November (corkbeo.ie)
- whenBurke was arrested outside the school on Monday 19 January 2026 ahead of a scheduled High Court appearance in Dublin. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtBarrister Rosemary Mallon made the application on behalf of the school. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe judge was satisfied Burke had breached a 2023 order permanently prohibiting him from trespassing on the school. (irishtimes.com)
- courtBurke was released from prison by the judge on Wednesday. (irishtimes.com)
- courtHis release was ordered to give him an opportunity to prepare a new case on the composition of an appeal panel. (irishtimes.com)
- courtSeveral judges have told him he was jailed for breaching a court order not to trespass, not for his religious or constitutional rights. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe High Court ordered on Friday that Burke be arrested and brought before a judge on Monday to say why he should not be sent back to prison (irishmirror.ie)
- courtMr Justice Brian Cregan said he was prepared to order Burke's attachment so he could be brought by Gardaí to court (irishmirror.ie)
- courtRosemary Mallon BL made the application on behalf of the school (irishmirror.ie)
- courtBurke was not in court for the Friday afternoon application because he was still at the school less than an hour earlier (irishmirror.ie)
- courtEnoch Burke was returned to Mountjoy Prison in Dublin after being found in contempt of court (irishmirror.ie)
- courtHis release was conditional on not returning to the Co. Westmeath school (irishmirror.ie)
- courtBurke was brought to and from court by gardaí and accompanied by his father Sean Burke and brother Isaac Burke (irishmirror.ie)
- courtHe had sought a temporary injunction against a disciplinary appeals body tasked with reviewing his dismissal (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe High Court ordered on Friday that he be arrested and brought before a judge on Monday to explain why he should not be sent back to prison (corkbeo.ie)
- courtMr Justice Brian Cregan said he was prepared to order his attachment so he could be brought by gardai to court (corkbeo.ie)
- courtRosemary Mallon BL made the application for the school (corkbeo.ie)
- courtGardaí executed a High Court order in Mullingar, Co. Westmeath on 19 January 2026. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceHe has been fined more than €225,000 for attending the school in breach of the court order (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceHe has been imprisoned for 550 days for attending the school in breach of the court order (irishmirror.ie)
- otherHe had spent more than 560 days in prison in different periods over the last three years. (irishtimes.com)
- otherHis dismissal arose from his refusal to obey a direction to call a transgender pupil by a new name and the they/them pronoun. (irishtimes.com)
- otherHe has repeatedly said he has been put in jail because of his views on transgender issues and that his religious and constitutional rights have been breached. (irishtimes.com)
- otherBurke is an Evangelical Christian who taught German and history at the school (irishmirror.ie)
- otherHe said 'This is all about transgenderism' before being taken away (corkbeo.ie)
- otherBurke was released from Mountjoy Prison on Wednesday 14 January 2026. (irishmirror.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 19 Jan2026Enoch Burke live updates as ex-teacher sent back to prison after arrest
Reports the arrest and High Court hearing where Burke was ordered back to prison for breaching a trespass order at Wilson's Hospital School.
convicted, Enoch Burke, male, named, irish (judged from name)Enoch Burke - 19 Jan2026Enoch Burke arrested outside Wilson's Hospital School
Reports the arrest and the Friday High Court order for his attachment following repeated trespassing at the school, and his release from Mountjoy Prison the previous Wednesday.
accused, Enoch Burke, male, named, irish (judged from name)Enoch Burke - 19 Jan2026Enoch Burke jailed: Judge has one-word reply as teacher says he respects court
Burke was released from Mountjoy Prison on Wednesday to prepare for his case against the disciplinary appeals body reviewing his dismissal, on the condition he not return to the school. He appeared at the school on Thursday and Friday, was found in contempt on Monday, and committed to prison. He has been fined over €225,000 and imprisoned for 550 days in total for breaching the court order.
convicted, Enoch Burke, male, named, irish (judged from name)Enoch Burke - 19 Jan2026Enoch Burke arrested outside Wilson's Hospital School
Provides detail on the physical arrest, Burke's statement 'This is all about transgenderism', the Friday High Court hearing where Mr Justice Brian Cregan ordered his attachment, and that a school security man stopped him from going past the boundary wall.
accused, Enoch Burke, male, named at arrest, irish (judged from name)Enoch Burke - 16 Jan2026Judge orders arrest of Enoch Burke after he turns up at Wilson’s Hospital School
Details of the 16 January High Court hearing where Mr Justice Cregan ordered Burke's arrest after he was found at the school less than an hour before the hearing; notes he had spent more than 560 days in prison over three years and that his release on Wednesday was to prepare a new case on the composition of an appeal panel hearing his dismissal appeal.
accused, Enoch Burke, male, named, irish (judged from name)Enoch Burke