Ireland Gardaí fail to arrest women sentenced for contempt of court in Mayo
Martina Burke and Ammi Burke, the mother and sister of jailed teacher Enoch Burke, were removed from a High Court hearing on 20 February 2026 for shouting and roaring during proceedings. They appeared before Mr Justice Brian Cregan on 25 February to answer for their conduct, and on 4 March he found both women guilty of contempt of court and sentenced each to two weeks in jail, ordering gardaí to arrest them immediately. Neither woman was present when the judgment was delivered. On 6 March, gardaí arrived at the Burke family home in Castlebar, Co. Mayo to execute the arrest warrant but left without making any arrests.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court23 Feb
4 reports - Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced4 Mar
4 reports
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Martina and Ammi Burke were removed from a High Court hearing on 20 February 2026 for shouting, roaring, and interrupting proceedings related to Enoch Burke's case.
- Where
- The Burke family home is in Castlebar, Co. Mayo.
- When
- The contempt hearing took place on 25 February 2026 and the sentencing was delivered on 4 March 2026.
- Cause
- The judge said the women's conduct included repeated shouting, refusals to sit down, and interruptions that forced the court to abandon the proceedings.
- Charges
- Martina and Ammi Burke were found guilty of contempt of court in the face of the court.
- In court
- Mr Justice Brian Cregan delivered the judgment at the High Court and ordered gardaí to arrest the two women immediately.
- The judge banned the two women and Enoch Burke's brother Isaac from attending future Enoch Burke hearings in person, directing they attend only remotely.
- Sentence
- Martina and Ammi Burke were each sentenced to two weeks in jail for contempt of court.
- Investigation
- On 6 March 2026, gardaí arrived at the Burke family home in Castlebar to execute the arrest warrant but left without making any arrests.
- Other details
- Enoch Burke, who has spent 600 days in prison, was present via remote link from Mountjoy Prison during the proceedings.
- The judge refused Enoch Burke's application to refer sworn statements by Seán Ó Longáin to the DPP for consideration of perjury.
55 statements extracted from the articles
- whatBurke and several family members had interrupted the hearing (irishtimes.com)
- whatIt will be the third panel convened to hear the appeal (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe legal challenge was struck out as pointless following resignations by two panel members on legal advice (irishtimes.com)
- whatMartina and Ammi Burke appeared before Mr Justice Brian Cregan. (gript.ie)
- whatThe court said there had been shouting and interference with the proceedings during the hearing. (gript.ie)
- whatGardaí failed to secure the arrest of Martina and Ammi Burke (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe two women had been removed from court on 20 February 2026 for shouting and roaring during a hearing (irishmirror.ie)
- whatA video posted to the Enoch Burke X account showed gardaí attempting to secure the arrest but leaving empty handed (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe officers left without having made any arrests (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe Burke family home is in Castlebar, Co. Mayo (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThey were called to answer for their actions before the court the previous Friday. (gript.ie)
- causeThe judge said the women's conduct at the hearing included repeated shouting, refusals to sit down and interruptions of an application. (rte.ie)
- investigationMartina Burke and Ammi Burke were removed from the courtroom by gardaí at a hearing the previous Friday. (rte.ie)
- chargeThey were found guilty of contempt of court (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe judge said the pair would be given the full right of audience (irishtimes.com)
- courtCregan made a production order for Burke to join proceedings by video-link (irishtimes.com)
- courtCregan ruled the case was moot (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe High Court will rule next week on whether the mother and a sister of Enoch Burke should be jailed for contempt of court. (rte.ie)
- courtThe judge decided to hold a contempt of court hearing in relation to Martina Burke and Ammi Burke. (rte.ie)
- courtAmmi Burke said the judge's striking out of proceedings against the DAP was an appalling abuse of power. (rte.ie)
- courtThe judge will give his ruling on the contempt issue the following Wednesday. (rte.ie)
- courtThe judge is also due to rule on Enoch Burke's application to refer a perjury affidavit to the DPP. (rte.ie)
- courtEnoch Burke was present via remote link from prison while his parents and siblings were in court (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe judge said Burke was jailed for trespassing at the school in breach of a court order, not because of his religious rights (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe judge is considering their conduct as contempt in the face of the court. (gript.ie)
- courtThe judge referred to shouting by Martina Burke and her refusal to sit down when instructed. (gript.ie)
- courtThe judge said the interruption of counsel had forced the court to abandon the proceedings. (gript.ie)
- courtNeither woman was present in court when the judgment was delivered. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe judge directed that both women be arrested and committed to prison. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe judge intended to direct that both women and Isaac Burke not attend further Enoch Burke hearings except via remote link. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe judge refused Enoch Burke's application to refer sworn statements by Seán Ó Longáin to the DPP for consideration of perjury. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe judge directed the governor of Mountjoy Prison be made a notice party to Enoch Burke's application regarding his transfer to Castlerea Prison. (irishtimes.com)
- courtMr Justice Brian Cregan delivered the judgment and ordered gardai to arrest the two women immediately. (galwaybeo.ie)
- courtMr Justice Brian Cregan delivered the judgment at the High Court (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe judge ordered gardaí to arrest the two women immediately (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe women were instructed to attend future hearings only remotely (irishmirror.ie)
- courtBoth women were given the opportunity to defend their actions at a hearing on 25 February (irishmirror.ie)
- courtMr Justice Brian Cregan delivered the judgment and ordered gardaí to arrest the two women immediately (irishmirror.ie)
- courtAn Garda Síochána confirmed it received a court order relating to contempt of court by two individuals (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceA contempt finding could result in a fine or a term of imprisonment (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceThe women were warned they would face fines or imprisonment if found in contempt. (gript.ie)
- sentenceMartina and Ammi Burke were sentenced to two weeks in jail each for contempt of court. (galwaybeo.ie)
- otherUp to 10 gardaí had to be present at Enoch Burke hearings to ensure order and remove family members. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe two women had been removed from court on 20 February for shouting and roaring during a hearing. (galwaybeo.ie, irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe judge ordered that the two women and Enoch Burke's brother Isaac be banned from attending future court hearings relating to Enoch Burke in person. (galwaybeo.ie)
- otherThe judge instructed that they be allowed to attend future hearings only remotely. (galwaybeo.ie)
- otherMartina Burke spoke for around 20 minutes in her defence (irishmirror.ie)
- otherMartina Burke described her son as an upright, genuine, sincere, godly teacher (irishmirror.ie)
- otherMartina Burke claimed her son had been denied his constitutional rights (irishmirror.ie)
- otherMr Cregan said Mrs Burke believes she has a right to shout at any judge at any time (irishmirror.ie)
- otherMr Cregan said nothing Ammi Burke said could amount to a justification or explanation for her behaviour (irishmirror.ie)
- otherMr Cregan described some of Ammi Burke's submissions as manifestly absurd (irishmirror.ie)
- otherMr Cregan described one submission in particular as so wrong-headed it beggars belief (irishmirror.ie)
- otherMr Cregan said it was long past time for the court to call a halt to the family circus (irishmirror.ie)
- otherEnoch Burke has spent 600 days in prison (irishmirror.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 6 Mar2026Major update as garda vans descend on Enoch Burke family home
Gardaí attempted to execute the arrest warrant at the Burke family home in Castlebar on 6 March 2026 but left without making any arrests; the women had been sentenced to two weeks in jail each on 4 March 2026 for contempt of court arising from being removed from court on 20 February 2026 for shouting and roaring during a hearing.
convicted, Martina Burke, female, named, irish (judged from name)Martina Burkeconvicted, Ammi Burke, female, named, irish (judged from name)Ammi Burke - 4 Mar2026Enoch Burke's mother and sister jailed for contempt of court
Provides full details of the sentencing hearing, including the judge's remarks, the women's defences, and the order banning them and Isaac Burke from attending future hearings in person.
convicted, Martina Burke, female, named, irish (judged from name)Martina Burkeconvicted, Ammi Burke, female, named, irish (judged from name)Ammi Burkeaccused, male, irish (judged from name) - 4 Mar2026Enoch Burke's mother and sister jailed for contempt of court
Reports the sentencing itself: two weeks in jail each, the reason (shouting and roaring on 20 February), the immediate arrest order, and the ban on attending future Enoch Burke hearings in person.
convicted, Martina Burke, female, named, irish (judged from name)Martina Burkeconvicted, Ammi Burke, female, named, irish (judged from name)Ammi Burke - 4 Mar2026Time to halt Burke ‘family circus’: Judge sentences Enoch Burke’s mother and sister to prison for two weeks
Reports the sentencing itself, including the judge's detailed reasoning, the women's conduct, the direction for arrest, the proposed remote-link restriction, the referral of Ammi Burke's conduct to the Law Society disciplinary committee, and Enoch Burke's response via remote link from Mountjoy Prison.
convicted, Martina Burke, female, named, irish (judged from name)Martina Burkeconvicted, Ammi Burke, female, named, irish (judged from name)Ammi Burkevictim, Enoch Burke, male, irish (judged from name)Enoch Burke - 25 Feb2026Judgement on Burke women court conduct next week - Gript
Reports the women's appearance before the High Court to answer for their conduct at the previous Friday's hearing, including the judge's comments and the warnings given to them.
suspect, Martina Burke, female, named, irish (judged from name)Martina Burkesuspect, Ammi Burke, female, named, irish (judged from name)Ammi Burke - 25 Feb2026Enoch Burke’s mother says her ‘godly’ and ‘righteous’ son should never have been jailed
Covers the 25 February 2026 hearing where Martina and Ammi Burke gave their responses to the potential contempt finding, the judge reserved his ruling, and Enoch Burke made a perjury application regarding Sean Ó Longáin's statements about the disciplinary panel hearing.
accused, Martina Burke, female, named, irish (judged from name)Martina Burkeaccused, Ammi Burke, female, named, irish (judged from name)Ammi Burke - 25 Feb2026Ruling next week on whether Burkes in contempt of court
Covers the High Court contempt hearing against Martina Burke and Ammi Burke, the judge's decision to hold it, and the ruling date. Ruling is due the following Wednesday.
accused, Martina Burke, female, named, irish (judged from name)Martina Burkeaccused, Ammi Burke, female, named, irish (judged from name)Ammi Burke - 23 Feb2026Judge to consider whether Enoch Burke family members were in contempt of court
Reports the High Court hearing where Judge Cregan suspended proceedings due to interruptions by Burke and family, ruled the case moot after panel members resigned, and indicated he would hear Martina and Ammi Burke on the contempt matter. Also notes Burke was sent back to jail in January for contempt for disobeying orders to stay away from the school.
accused, Enoch Burke, male, named, irish (judged from name)Enoch Burkeaccused, female, irish (judged from name)accused, Ammi Burke, female, named, irish (judged from name)Ammi Burke