Ireland High Court rejects Enoch Burke's claims of errors in trespass judgment
High Court judge Mr Justice Brian Cregan comprehensively rejected claims by jailed schoolteacher Enoch Burke that there were errors in an earlier judgment jailing him for repeated trespass at Wilson's Hospital School in Co. Westmeath, stating he is in prison for trespassing and not for his views on transgenderism or religious beliefs.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court9 Dec
2 reports - Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports22 statements extracted from the articles
- whatBurke was jailed for repeated trespass on Wilson's Hospital School in Westmeath where he was once employed (irishmirror.ie)
- whatBurke's mother Martina and siblings Ammi and Isaac were physically removed by gardaí from the court (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe judge told the family they could not be present due to repeated disruptive behaviour at past hearings (irishmirror.ie)
- whatEnoch Burke is a jailed schoolteacher (irishtimes.com)
- whatEnoch Burke joined the hearing via videolink from Mountjoy prison (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe judge stated he is not in prison because of his views on transgenderism (irishtimes.com)
- whatHe would be released if he purged his contempt (irishtimes.com)
- whatHe must give an undertaking to the court not to trespass again (irishtimes.com)
- whatOutstanding fines of over €225,000 remain (irishtimes.com)
- courtMr Justice Brian Cregan comprehensively rejected Burke's claims of errors in the earlier judgment (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe judge stated Burke is in prison because he breached a court order not to trespass on school property (irishmirror.ie, irishtimes.com)
- courtBurke would be released if he purged his contempt and must give an undertaking not to trespass again (irishmirror.ie)
- courtBurke does not have to give an undertaking to follow a school principal's direction to call a child 'they/them' (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe judge said the idea Burke is in prison because of his religious beliefs is nonsense (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe judge was satisfied there were no errors in his earlier judgment including use of the words 'baleful' and 'malign' (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe judge adjourned the case to the following Wednesday (irishmirror.ie, irishtimes.com)
- courtMr Justice Brian Cregan comprehensively rejected claims of errors in an earlier judgment jailing Burke (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe judge was satisfied there were no errors in his earlier judgment (irishtimes.com)
- otherEnoch Burke appeared in court online from Mountjoy prison (irishmirror.ie)
- otherOutstanding fines of over €225,000 remain outstanding (irishmirror.ie)
- otherBurke's verbal aggression was one of the reasons for his dismissal from the school (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe judge said Burke's verbal aggression towards the court was unprecedented in his experience (irishmirror.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 9 Dec2025Claims that Enoch Burke is jailed for his beliefs are ‘lies’, judge rules
Judge comprehensively rejected Burke's claims of errors in the earlier judgment; family members physically removed from court for disruptive behaviour; case adjourned to the following Wednesday.
convicted, Enoch Burke, male, named, irish (judged from name)Enoch Burke - 9 Dec2025Enoch Burke's family physically removed from court as judge rejects claim
Reports the High Court written judgment rejecting Burke's claim of errors in the earlier contempt judgment, the physical removal of his family from the courtroom, and the judge's clarification that Burke is in prison solely for trespass, not for his views on transgenderism or religious beliefs.
convicted, Enoch Burke, male, named, irish (judged from name)Enoch Burke