Wednesday 28 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 0493Judicial review · Co. Westmeath

Teacher Enoch Burke granted High Court permission to challenge dismissal from Wilson's Hospital School

Enoch Burke, a former history and teacher from Co Mayo, was suspended and later dismissed by Wilson's Hospital School in Co Westmeath over his conduct towards then-principal Niamh McShane at a school religious event in June 2022, after a disagreement over the use of a student's new name and pronouns. A Disciplinary Appeal Panel in May 2026 upheld the dismissal, and the school obtained court orders barring Burke from the premises, which he repeatedly breached, leading to over 700 days in prison for contempt and outstanding fines of €208,268.18. On 22 July 2026, Judge Brian Cregan banned three Burke family members from attending his litigation hearings over their disruptive behaviour. On 28 July 2026, Justice Cian Ferriter granted Burke permission at the High Court to bring judicial review proceedings against the DAP, the Minister for Education, and the school's Board of Management, with the matter adjourned to October 2026.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court15 Jul
    4 reports
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Wilson's Hospital School in Co Westmeath suspended and later dismissed teacher Enoch Burke over his conduct towards then-principal Niamh McShane at a school religious event in June 2022.
  • The disagreement arose after McShane requested teachers to address a teenage student by a new name and use the pronouns they and them, which Burke, an evangelical Christian, said went against his religious beliefs.
In court
  • A Disciplinary Appeal Panel in May 2026 upheld Burke's dismissal for alleged gross misconduct, and the school obtained court orders barring him from the premises.
  • On 22 July 2026, Judge Brian Cregan banned Burke's mother Martina and siblings Isaac and Ammi from attending his litigation hearings, describing their disruption since October 2025 as an affront to the administration of justice.
  • On 28 July 2026, Justice Cian Ferriter granted Burke permission at the High Court to bring judicial review proceedings against DAP members Claire Callanan, John Irwin and Seamus Lahart, the Minister for Education, and the Board of Management of Wilson's Hospital School.
  • The judicial review matter was adjourned to October 2026.
Sentence
Burke spent over 700 days in prison in separate spells for contempt of the school exclusion order and accumulated fines totalling €273,200, of which €208,268.18 remained outstanding as of July 2026.
Other details
Burke argues that DAP chair Claire Callanan should have recused herself because she and her husband Lyndon McCann SC hold positions within the Church of Ireland, and that as a lay litigant he was put at an unfair disadvantage by the presence of a solicitor and barrister at his internal appeal.
46 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThe school suspended and later dismissed Burke over his conduct towards then-principal Niamh McShane at a school religious event in June 2022 (dublinlive.ie)
  • whatWilson's Hospital School suspended and later dismissed Mr Burke over his conduct towards principal Niamh McShane at a school religious event in June 2022. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtJudge Brian Cregan said Burke had wasted 700 days of his life in prison (dublinlive.ie)
  • courtHis reputation as a teacher had been damaged (dublinlive.ie)
  • courtBurke appeared before Judge Cregan via videolink (dublinlive.ie)
  • courtThe judge described the family's behaviour as an affront to the administration of justice (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe judge said the family's disruption had been ongoing since October 2025 (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe judge said their behaviour wasted court time and Garda resources (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe judge refused Isaac Burke's application for a stay on the ban order (irishtimes.com)
  • courtEnoch Burke is due to move an application next week for permission to challenge a DAP decision (irishtimes.com)
  • courtEnoch Burke was granted permission at the High Court to bring judicial review proceedings on 28 July 2026 (dublinlive.ie)
  • courtJustice Cian Ferriter granted permission to Burke to pursue his judicial review and adjourned the matter to October (dublinlive.ie)
  • courtMr Burke was granted permission at the High Court to bring judicial review proceedings. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe school successfully sought court orders banning Mr Burke from the premises. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtHe seeks an order quashing the DAP opinion and decision of May 2026 over his purported dismissal. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtMr Justice Cian Ferriter granted permission and adjourned the matter to October. (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceMr Burke spent over 700 days in prison in separate spells from contempt of the court order. (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceHe amassed outstanding fines in the region of €200,000 imposed by the courts. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherEnoch Burke still owes €208,268.18 in fines (dublinlive.ie)
  • otherThe fines are for defying court orders to refrain from trespassing at a school in Co Westmeath (dublinlive.ie)
  • otherThe total amount owed was €273,200 (dublinlive.ie)
  • otherHe had paid back €64,931.83 (dublinlive.ie)
  • otherPart of the repayment came through his salary from the Department of Education being redirected (dublinlive.ie)
  • otherBurke was seen talking animatedly after the court placed his video feed on mute (dublinlive.ie)
  • otherBurke is a former history and German teacher from Co Mayo (dublinlive.ie)
  • otherHe was dismissed from Wilson's Hospital School in May (dublinlive.ie)
  • otherEnoch Burke was suspended and later dismissed over his conduct towards then-principal Niamh McShane at a school religious event in June 2022 (irishtimes.com)
  • otherEnoch Burke, an evangelical Christian, maintained the request went against his religious beliefs (irishtimes.com)
  • otherBurke was formally dismissed for gross misconduct after a DAP in May said his challenge to dismissal failed (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe DAP members are Claire Callanan (chair), John Irwin, and Seamus Lahart (dublinlive.ie)
  • otherThe disagreement arose after McShane requested teachers to address a teenage student by a new name and use the pronouns they and them (dublinlive.ie)
  • otherBurke is an evangelical Christian who maintained the request went against his religious beliefs (dublinlive.ie)
  • otherThe school obtained court orders banning Burke from the premises which he continuously breached (dublinlive.ie)
  • otherBurke spent over 700 days in prison in separate spells for contempt of the court order barring him from the school (dublinlive.ie)
  • otherBurke has outstanding fines in the region of €200,000 imposed by the courts (dublinlive.ie)
  • otherBurke was formally dismissed for alleged gross misconduct after an appeal in May 2026 found his challenge to his dismissal had failed (dublinlive.ie)
  • otherBurke argues DAP chair Claire Callanan should have recused herself because she and her husband Lyndon McCann SC hold positions within the Church of Ireland (dublinlive.ie)
  • otherWilson's Hospital School is a Church of Ireland School with archbishops and bishops of that denomination as trustees, guardians and patrons (dublinlive.ie)
  • otherBurke argues that as a lay litigant he was put at an unfair disadvantage by allowing a solicitor and barrister to oppose and cross-examine him at his internal appeal hearing (dublinlive.ie)
  • otherThe three DAP respondents are Claire Callanan (chair), John Irwin, and Seamus Lahart. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherMr Burke is an evangelical Christian who maintained the request went against his religious beliefs. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherHe was formally dismissed for alleged gross misconduct after an appeal in May 2026 found his challenge to his dismissal had failed. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherHe argues Ms Callanan should have recused herself because she and her husband Lyndon McCann SC hold positions within the Church of Ireland. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherWilson's is a Church of Ireland School with archbishops and bishops of that denomination as trustees, guardians and patrons. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherMr McCann holds senior and influential offices at the apex of the Church of Ireland and has a close relationship with trustees and guardians of the school. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherHe argues that as a lay litigant he was put at an unfair disadvantage by allowing a solicitor and barrister to oppose and cross-examine him at his internal appeal hearing. (irishmirror.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 28 Jul2026
    In courtirishmirror.ie, first report
    Major Enoch Burke update but will have to wait until Octoberac

    High Court grants permission for judicial review challenging the DAP's May 2026 decision upholding Burke's dismissal; matter adjourned to October 2026.

    accused, Enoch Burke, male, named, irish (judged from name)Enoch Burkevictim, Niamh McShane, female, irish (judged from name)Niamh McShane
  2. 28 Jul2026
    In courtdublinlive.ie, follow-up
    Enoch Burke wins High Court permission to challenge failed employment appeal

    First report of Burke's High Court judicial review application; details his arguments regarding bias of DAP chair Claire Callanan and procedural unfairness as a lay litigant, and notes he has spent over 700 days in prison for contempt of a school exclusion order.

    victim, Enoch Burke, male, irish (judged from name)Enoch Burke
  3. 22 Jul2026
    In courtirishtimes.com, follow-up
    Three Burke family members banned from attending court hearings

    Adds that Judge Cregan issued a ban on three Burke family members from attending Enoch Burke's litigation hearings, described their disruption as 'co-ordinated and concerted' since October 2025, and refused Isaac Burke's application for a stay on the order.

    victim, Enoch Burke, male, irish (judged from name)Enoch Burkesuspect, Martina Burke, female, named, irish (judged from name)Martina Burkesuspect, Isaac Burke, male, named, irish (judged from name)Isaac Burkesuspect, irish (judged from name)victim, Niamh McShane, female, irish (judged from name)Niamh McShane
  4. 15 Jul2026
    In courtdublinlive.ie, follow-up
    Court told huge amount Enoch Burke owes in fines - to exact cent

    The article reports the High Court was told Burke still owes €208,268.18 (out of a total €273,200) in fines for defying trespassing orders at Wilson's Hospital School, that he had paid back €64,931.83 partly via redirected salary, and that Judge Cregan said Burke had wasted 700 days in prison and his reputation as a teacher had been damaged.

    accused, Enoch Burke, male, named, irish (judged from name)Enoch Burke