Ireland Named in reporting
Isaac Burke
14 reports across 4 cases, 4 Oct 2022 to 17 Dec 2025
Key facts
from every report naming them- Named as
- Accused, suspect
- Offences
- Contempt of court, Criminal contempt of court, Injunction (professional misconduct; trespass)
- Where
- Co. Westmeath, Co. Dublin
- Reporting
- 14 reports, 4 Oct 2022 to 17 Dec 2025
- Outlets
- irishtimes.com, rte.ie, thejournal.ie, irishmirror.ie, gript.ie, leinsterexpress.ie, longfordleader.ie
Cases
latest first- Teacher jailed for sixth time for contempt of court in Westmeath Contempt of court · Co. Westmeath
Enoch Burke, a History and teacher, was suspended and later dismissed from Wilson's Hospital School in Multyfarnham, Co Westmeath, after objecting to a direction by then-principal Niamh McShane to address a transitioning student by a new name and they/them pronouns, which he said was contrary to his Christian beliefs. He was first committed to Mountjoy Prison in September 2022 for contempt of court after breaching a High Court injunction to stay away from the school, and has since been jailed on five further occasions, spending more than 700 days in total. His dismissal for gross misconduct was confirmed in 2026 after a disciplinary appeals panel refused his appeal. On 15 October 2026, the High Court ordered his arrest and committal to Mountjoy for a sixth time after finding 18 deliberate breaches of the trespass order, and on 29 October the arrest order was narrowed to 100 metres and a further €30,000 in fines was imposed, bringing his total to €238,268.18.
Sentenced, 8 Sep 2023Accused, suspect · 8 reports - AG declines criminal contempt proceedings against Burke family at High Court Criminal contempt of court
The dispute began in 2022 when Wilson's Hospital School's then-principal asked that a student be addressed by a new name and pronoun, leading to an injunction restraining Enoch Burke from attending the school. Burke was ordered back to prison for breaching that injunction, and at subsequent High Court hearings in October and November 2025, his mother Martina, sister Ammi, and brother Isaac were removed by gardaí after making heated remarks to Mr Justice Brian Cregan. The judge directed the Attorney General to consider criminal contempt proceedings against all four family members. On 17 December, the Attorney General told the court he would not bring criminal contempt proceedings at this time, and the judge said he would reflect over Christmas on whether to initiate proceedings himself.
In court, 5 Nov 2025Suspect · 4 reports - Judge refuses injunction in teacher misconduct and trespass case in Dublin Injunction (professional misconduct; trespass) · Co. Dublin
Enoch Burke, a History and teacher at Wilson's Hospital School in Dublin, was suspended on full pay in late August 2022 after interrupting a school service in June to object to a transitioning student being addressed by the pronoun 'they' and a different name. He was jailed for contempt on 5 September 2022 for attending the school despite restraining orders and was released on 21 December after 108 days. In January 2023, Burke sought a High Court injunction to halt the school's disciplinary process, but Judge Dignam refused to grant it unless Burke complied with the existing order barring him from the school, a condition Burke rejected. The school also initiated an application for temporary detention of his assets after he attended the school on 5 January.
In court, 4 Oct 2022Suspect · 1 report - Enoch Burke's contempt of court order amended in Westmeath Contempt of court · Co. Westmeath
In June 2022, Enoch Burke, an Irish History and teacher, interrupted a 260th anniversary service at Wilson's Hospital School in Multyfarnham, Co Westmeath, to object to a direction from principal Niamh McShane to address a transitioning student by a different name and the pronoun 'they'. He was suspended in August 2022 and subsequently dismissed for gross misconduct, and a High Court injunction ordered him to stay away from the school. Burke repeatedly breached the injunction, was jailed five times for contempt of court, and has spent over 700 days in prison in separate spells. In October 2026, the court amended his ban to 100 metres from the school and calculated his outstanding fines at €238,268.18 after 205 days of trespassing.
Sentenced, 5 Sep 2022Accused · 1 report
Timeline
every report naming Isaac Burke, newest firstEach entry shows how that report described them.
- 17 Dec2025Enoch Burke will not be prosecuted for criminal contempt, Attorney General tells High Courtaccused, Isaac, namedIsaac
- 17 Dec2025AG not taking contempt proceedings against Burkessuspect, Isaac Burke, named, irish (judged from name)Isaac Burke
- 22 Nov2025'This is not normal behaviour': Why three more Burkes could be facing jail for contempt of courtsuspect, Isaac Burke, male, named, irish (judged from name)Isaac Burke
- 18 Nov2025Enoch Burke ordered back to prison, as mother and two siblings face criminal contempt chargessuspect, Isaac Burke, named, irish (judged from name)Isaac Burke
- 12 Nov2025Judge to decide next week whether Enoch Burke should return to prisonsuspect, Isaac Burke, named, irish (judged from name)Isaac Burke
- 5 Nov2025Four Burke family members removed from High court over persistent interruptionssuspect, Isaac, named, irish (judged from name)Isaac
- 5 Nov2025Judge considering whether Enoch Burke should go to prison for contempt of court againsuspect, Isaac Burke, named, irish (judged from name)Isaac Burke
- 5 Nov2025Burkes removed from High Court - Griptsuspect, Isaac Burke, named, irish (judged from name)Isaac Burke
- 23 Feb2024Several Burke family members excluded from next weeks court review of Enoch Burke's contemptsuspect, Dr Isaac Burke, named, irish (judged from name)Dr Isaac Burke
- 4 Oct2022Jailed midlands teacher could be in prison until at least Christmassuspect, Isaac Burke, male, named, irish (judged from name)Isaac Burke
- 4 Oct2022Enoch Burke appeals injunction requiring him to stay away from school where he is employedsuspect, Isaac Burke, male, named, irish (judged from name)Isaac Burke
- 4 Oct2022Jailed Midlands teacher Enoch Burke appeals High Court decision requiring him to stay away from school where he is employedaccused, Isaac Burke, male, named, irish (judged from name)Isaac Burke
- 4 Oct2022Jailed teacher Enoch Burke appeals order preventing him from attending at schoolaccused, Isaac Burke, male, named, irish (judged from name)Isaac Burke
- 4 Oct2022Enoch Burke lodges appeal against High Court injunctionsuspect, Isaac Burke, male, named, irish (judged from name)Isaac Burke
Matched on the name as printed, ignoring quoted nicknames, and split by the ages reported. Two people who share a name and age would appear together here.