High Court orders arrest and jailing of Enoch Burke over school trespass
Enoch Burke, a man, was ordered by the High Court on 15 October 2026 to be arrested and jailed for contempt of court after repeatedly trespassing at Wilson's Hospital School in County Westmeath in breach of a court order made over three years ago. Burke, who was dismissed from the school in May following a 2022 dispute over a student's pronouns, had been trespassing on the school grounds since late August despite the school contacting gardaí and hiring security personnel. Judge Brian Cregan, who described Burke's conduct as deliberate and flagrant contempt of court, ordered his immediate committal to Mountjoy Prison and the sequestration of a car he used to travel to the school, with a two-week stay on the sequestration. Burke, who has spent more than 700 days in prison and accrued over €208,000 in fines from prior breaches, was not present at the hearing and was unrepresented. The case was to return to the High Court later that week.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court13 Oct
2 reports - Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- The High Court ordered Enoch Burke's arrest and committal to prison for contempt of court after he repeatedly trespassed at Wilson's Hospital School in breach of a court order.
- Where
- The trespassing occurred at Wilson's Hospital School in County Westmeath; the proceedings were heard in the High Court.
- When
- The committal order was made on 15 October 2026; the original ban was made over three years ago by Judge Alexander Owens; trespassing occurred from late August 2026 onward.
- Cause
- Burke's repeated trespassing at the school in breach of a court order banning him from the premises.
- Investigation
- The school contacted gardaí and employed security personnel costing €1,200 per week before returning to the High Court.
- Charges
- Judge Brian Cregan found Burke's conduct amounted to deliberate and flagrant contempt of court.
- In court
- Judge Cregan ordered Burke's immediate attachment and committal to Mountjoy Prison and the sequestration of a car he used to travel to the school, with a two-week stay on the sequestration.
- Burke was not present at the hearing because he was in attendance at the school, and he was not represented; the case was to return later that week.
- Other details
- Burke was formally dismissed from the school in May for gross misconduct following a confrontation over a student's pronouns at a religious event in June 2022, and he maintains he was not validly dismissed and continues seeking reinstatement through the courts.
- Burke has spent more than 700 days in prison in separate spells for prior breaches of the order and has amassed fines of over €208,000; he was most recently released in July.
- Burke is an evangelical Christian who maintained the pronoun request went against his religious beliefs, and on occasion he gained entry to the school reception after waiting for security personnel to leave the gates.
24 statements extracted from the articles
- courtJudge Brian Cregan granted the school permission to serve Burke with its application for attachment and committal to prison. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe case will return later this week. (irishtimes.com)
- courtBurke was not represented at the hearing. (irishtimes.com)
- courtJudge Brian Cregan ordered the sequestration of a car used by Burke to travel to the school. (irishtimes.com)
- courtBurke was ordered for immediate attachment and committal to Mountjoy Prison. (irishtimes.com)
- courtBurke was not present at the hearing because he was in attendance at the school. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe order banning Burke from the school was made over three years ago by Judge Alexander Owens. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe school returned to the High Court following multiple instances of Burke trespassing since late August. (irishtimes.com)
- courtBurke did not deny that he had trespassed at the school. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe judge placed a two-week stay on the sequestration order. (irishtimes.com)
- otherBurke was formally dismissed from his position at the school in May for gross misconduct. (irishtimes.com)
- otherBurke maintains he was not validly dismissed and continues to seek reinstatement through the courts. (irishtimes.com)
- otherBurke had trespassed on various occasions since the beginning of the academic year in breach of a court order. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe school contacted gardaí and employed security personnel at the school premises. (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 arising from his contempt of the court order. (irishtimes.com)
- otherBurke has spent over 700 days in prison in different spells for breaches of the order. (irishtimes.com)
- otherBurke was most recently released from prison in July. (irishtimes.com)
- otherBurke has amassed fines of over €208,000 over his breaches. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe school suspended and later dismissed Burke over his conduct towards then-principal Niamh McShane at a school religious event in June 2022. (irishtimes.com)
- otherBurke is an evangelical Christian who maintained the request went against his religious beliefs. (irishtimes.com)
- otherSecurity personnel hired by the school cost €1,200 per week. (irishtimes.com)
- otherBurke waited for security personnel to leave their position at the school gates before walking on to the school premises. (irishtimes.com)
- otherOn occasion, Burke gained entry to the school reception. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 15 Oct2026Enoch Burke: High Court again orders arrest and jailing of sacked teacher over school trespass
Reports the High Court hearing at which Judge Brian Cregan ordered Burke's immediate attachment and committal to Mountjoy Prison for deliberate and flagrant contempt of court, and the sequestration of his car. Details the background of Burke's dismissal, the 2022 confrontation over pronouns, his 700+ days in prison and €208,000 in fines from prior breaches, and the school's evidence of repeated trespassing since late August.
accused, Enoch Burke, male, named, irish (judged from name)Enoch Burke - 13 Oct2026Enoch Burke faces jail again as school lodges fresh High Court application
Reports the school's fresh High Court application and Judge Cregan granting permission to serve Burke with the committal application; provides background on the 700+ days Burke has spent in prison, the origin of the dispute over a student's pronouns at a June 2022 religious event, and Burke's unrepresented appearance.
accused, Enoch Burke, male, named, irish (judged from name)Enoch Burke