Ireland Mother and sister of Enoch Burke arrested outside Castlerea Prison
On 31 March 2026, Martina Burke and Ammi Burke, mother and sister of teacher Enoch Burke, were arrested outside Castlerea Prison in Co Roscommon under a High Court order for their arrest and committal. They had gone to visit Enoch Burke, who is in custody at the prison, and prison authorities contacted gardaí. On 4 March 2026, Mr Justice Brian Cregan ruled that both women were in contempt of court over shouting and interruptions at a hearing in late February and ordered each jailed for two weeks, and neither woman attended that judgment. The latest development is that gardaí arrested the two women on 31 March and were understood to be escorting them to the Dóchas Centre at the Mountjoy Prison complex in Dublin.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrested31 Mar
3 reports - Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced5 Mar
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Martina Burke and Ammi Burke, the mother and sister of Enoch Burke, were arrested under High Court orders for their arrest and committal.
- Where
- The two women were arrested outside Castlerea Prison in Co Roscommon during a family visit to Enoch Burke.
- When
- The arrests took place on 31 March 2026, the day before the reports were published.
- Cause
- The contempt findings concerned repeated shouting and interruptions by both women at a hearing on an application by Enoch Burke, which the judge called brazen and deliberate contempt.
- The judge said the conduct at the 20 February hearing was described as late February in one account and as 20 February in another.
- Investigation
- Prison authorities contacted gardaí, who were waiting when the family emerged and took the women into custody.
- Gardaí had made at least one unsuccessful attempt to locate the women at their family home in Castlebar on 6 March.
- In court
- On 4 March, Mr Justice Brian Cregan ruled that both women were guilty of contempt in the face of the court, and neither woman attended the judgment.
- The High Court ordered the immediate arrest and committal to prison of the two women, and the judge said the family circus has to end.
- Sentence
- Mr Justice Cregan sentenced each woman to two weeks in prison on 4 March.
- Other details
- The women were understood to be taken to the female unit at the Dóchas Centre, Mountjoy Prison complex, in Dublin.
- The judge intends to order that disruptive family members be barred from attending future hearings in person and allowed to take part by video link.
29 statements extracted from the articles
- whatThe mother and sister of Enoch Burke were arrested after the High Court issued orders for their attachment and committal. (gript.ie)
- whatMartina and Ammi Burke were arrested outside Castlerea Prison. (gript.ie)
- whereThe two women were arrested at Castlerea Prison in Co Roscommon. (rte.ie)
- whereThe women were due to be incarcerated in the Dóchas Centre, the female prison at the Mountjoy Prison complex. (rte.ie)
- whereThe women were arrested at Castlerea Prison during a family visit to Enoch Burke. (gript.ie)
- whereThe arrests happened outside Castlerea Prison. (gript.ie)
- whenThe arrests took place the day before the article was published. (gript.ie)
- causeThe judge said the women had repeatedly interrupted proceedings by shouting and roaring. (rte.ie)
- causeThe contempt findings followed sustained shouting and interruptions during the previous hearing. (gript.ie)
- causeThe contempt proceedings related to shouting and interruptions by both women at a hearing on an application by Enoch Burke. (gript.ie)
- investigationPrison officers contacted gardaí, who came and took the women into custody under the High Court orders. (gript.ie)
- investigationGardaí had made at least one unsuccessful attempt to locate the women at their family home in Castlebar on 6 March. (gript.ie)
- chargeBoth women were held in contempt of court by Mr Justice Brian Cregan for their conduct at a court hearing in late February. (gript.ie)
- courtA judge warned that the family circus has to end. (extra.ie)
- courtThe High Court ordered the immediate arrest and committal to prison of the two women for contempt of court. (rte.ie)
- courtThe judge described the conduct at the 20 February hearing as brazen and deliberate contempt of court. (gript.ie)
- courtNeither woman attended court when the judgment on contempt was delivered on 4 March. (gript.ie)
- courtOn 4 March, Mr Justice Brian Cregan ruled that the women were guilty of contempt in the face of the court. (gript.ie)
- sentenceMartina and Ammi Burke are to be jailed. (extra.ie)
- sentenceMr Justice Brian Cregan ordered the two women jailed for two weeks each on 4 March. (rte.ie)
- sentenceJustice Cregan sentenced both women to two weeks in prison. (gript.ie)
- otherPrison authorities contacted gardaí, who were waiting when the family emerged from the prison. (rte.ie)
- otherGardaí were understood to be escorting the women to Dublin. (rte.ie)
- otherIrish law permits a person to be held in prison indefinitely for contempt of court. (gript.ie)
- otherThe judge intends to order that disruptive family members be banned from attending future hearings in person and allowed to take part by video link. (gript.ie)
- otherFootage shows the women being confronted by a group of gardaí before being placed in a Garda van with a holding cell. (gript.ie)
- otherThe women were understood to have been taken to the female unit of Mountjoy Prison, the Dochas centre. (gript.ie)
- otherNeither woman attended the High Court to hear the judgment on 4 March. (gript.ie)
- otherMr Justice Cregan said the Burkes' family circus could no longer be tolerated in their abuse of the courts. (gript.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 1 Apr2026WATCH: Burke women arrested at Enoch prison visit - Gript
Reports the arrest of the two women outside Castlerea Prison, the transfer to the Dochas centre, and background on the March contempt ruling by Mr Justice Brian Cregan.
convicted, Martina Burke, female, named at arrest, irish (judged from name)Martina Burkeconvicted, Ammi Burke, female, named at arrest, irish (judged from name)Ammi Burke - 31 Mar2026Martina and Ammi Burke arrested - Gript
Reports the arrest of the two women under High Court committal orders, the contempt findings and two-week sentences, and the judge's comments and planned order on remote participation for disruptive family members.
convicted, Martina Burke, female, named at arrest, irish (judged from name)Martina Burkeconvicted, Ammi Burke, female, named at arrest, irish (judged from name)Ammi Burke - 31 Mar2026Martina and Ammi Burke arrested at Castlerea Prison
Adds the 4 March High Court order by Mr Justice Brian Cregan, the two-week jail terms for each woman, the reason for the order (repeated interruptions of a hearing), and that they were being taken to the Dóchas Centre.
accused, female, irish (judged from name)accused, Ammi Burke, female, named at arrest, irish (judged from name)Ammi Burke - 5 Mar2026Judge warns 'the family circus has to end’ as Martina and Ammi Burke to be jailed
Only the headline and an empty summary were provided; the body text is template code. The headline says the Burke women are to be jailed and quotes a judge saying the family circus has to end. Names appear only as 'Martina and Ammi Burke' in the headline. No dates, location or sentence length are given.
convicted, irish (judged from name)convicted, irish (judged from name) - 4 Mar2026Enoch Burke's mother and sister to be arrested and jailed
Headline only. The article text contains only template code with no story details, so the arrest and jail plans cannot be confirmed from the body. It appears to relate to the contempt matter in existing case 10241.
accused, irish (judged from name)accused, irish (judged from name)