Ireland Named in reporting
Martina Burke
34 reports across 8 cases, 14 Oct 2022 to 17 Apr 2026
Key facts
from every report naming them- Named as
- Convicted, accused, suspect
- Offences
- Criminal contempt of court, Contempt of court, Assault (assaulting a garda), Contempt of court (disruption of proceedings)
- Where
- Co. Westmeath, Co. Roscommon, Co. Mayo, Co. Dublin
- Reporting
- 34 reports, 14 Oct 2022 to 17 Apr 2026
- Outlets
- irishtimes.com, gript.ie, irishmirror.ie, galwaybeo.ie, rte.ie, thejournal.ie, leinsterexpress.ie, longfordleader.ie, extra.ie
Photographs
as published, with the outlet's credit
Images are shown from the outlet that published them and link back to the article. Copyright stays with the credited photographer or agency.
Cases
latest first- Burke women appeal criminal contempt of court conviction in Dublin Criminal contempt of court · Co. Westmeath
Martina Burke and her daughter Ammi Burke, a solicitor, were found guilty of criminal contempt of court by Judge Brian Cregan on 4 March 2026 after they stood and shouted during a High Court hearing on 20 February 2026 concerning the dismissal of Enoch Burke from Wilson's Hospital School. The judge ordered two weeks' imprisonment for each woman and warrants were issued, but the pair were at large for approximately four weeks before being arrested at Castlerea Prison, Co Roscommon, on 31 March or 1 April 2026 while attempting to visit Enoch Burke. They were committed to the Dochas Centre in Dublin and served their two-week sentence in April 2026. The women are now appealing the conviction at the Court of Appeal, arguing alleged lack of judicial impartiality and fair procedures, with Judge Senan Allen reserving a hearing date in July 2026.
Sentenced, 26 Mar 2026Convicted · 4 reports - Burke women arrested at Castlerea Prison for contempt of court Contempt of court · Co. Roscommon
Martina Burke, mother of teacher Enoch Burke, and Ammi Burke, a qualified solicitor and Enoch's sister, were found in contempt of court by Mr Justice Brian Cregan on 4 March for repeatedly shouting and interrupting a High Court hearing on 20 February. The judge sentenced each woman to two weeks in prison and ordered their immediate arrest. On 31 March, the two women were arrested outside Castlerea Prison in Co Roscommon during a family visit to Enoch Burke. Gardaí escorted them to the Dóchas Centre, the female prison at the Mountjoy complex in Dublin.
Sentenced, 5 Mar 2026Convicted · 2 reports - Gardaí fail to arrest women jailed for contempt in Castlebar Contempt of court · Co. Mayo
Martina Burke and Ammi Burke, mother and sister of jailed teacher Enoch Burke, were removed from a High Court hearing on 20 February 2026 for shouting, roaring, and interrupting proceedings. They appeared before Mr Justice Brian Cregan on 25 February to answer for their conduct. On 4 March 2026, the judge found both women guilty of contempt of court and sentenced each to two weeks in jail, ordering gardaí to arrest them immediately. On 6 March 2026, officers arrived at the Burke family home in Castlebar, Co. Mayo, but left without securing the arrests.
Sentenced, 4 Mar 2026Convicted, accused, suspect · 7 reports - Burke women sentenced for contempt of court in Dublin Contempt of court · Co. Dublin
Enoch Burke, a teacher from County Mayo, was dismissed from Wilson's Hospital School in Co Westmeath after objecting to the school's direction to refer to a student by a different name using the pronoun 'they', with then principal Niamh McShane in attendance. He was enjoined from attending the school and repeatedly breached the order, spending over 450 days in prison for contempt of court, while the Court of Appeal unanimously dismissed his appeal in March 2023. Multiple family members, including his mother Martina Burke and sister Ammi Burke, were physically removed from courtrooms in chaotic scenes on several occasions. On 4 March 2026, the High Court sentenced Martina and Ammi Burke to two weeks in prison each for contempt of court arising from their behaviour at a hearing.
Sentenced, 4 Mar 2026Convicted, accused, suspect · 4 reports - 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 · 10 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 - Sean Burke jailed for assaulting garda at Four Courts Assault (assaulting a garda) · Co. Dublin
On 7 March 2023, Sean Burke, 60, of Cloonsunna, Castlebar, Co Mayo, allegedly grabbed Garda Victoria Fisher and knocked her to the ground in the Court of Appeal at the Four Courts, Dublin, during a hearing in his son Enoch Burke's case. His daughter Ammi Burke, 33, a qualified solicitor, was also charged with obstructing a garda who arrested her brother Simeon Burke, 25, during the same incident. Both were found guilty at Dublin District Court on 9 May 2024, with Sean Burke spared a recorded conviction under the Probation of Offenders Act and Ammi Burke fined €400. On 17 December 2024, Judge Ronan Munro at Cloverhill Court convicted Sean Burke on appeal and sentenced him to two months' imprisonment, which he was ordered to serve after refusing to sign a peace bond, while Ammi Burke's obstruction conviction was overturned.
Sentenced, 10 May 2024Accused, suspect · 2 reports - Burke removed from Four Courts for contempt of court Contempt of court (disruption of proceedings) · Co. Dublin
On 13 February 2023, Enoch Burke was physically removed from Court 3 in the Four Courts by three gardaí after disrupting the call over of the chancery list before Mr Justice Brian O'Moore. He was accompanied by his parents Martina and Sean Burke and his sister Ammi Burke, who also interrupted proceedings before leaving of their own accord. It was the second consecutive sitting in which the judge directed gardaí to remove Burke, following a similar removal the previous Friday. Burke, a teacher in a legal dispute with Wilson's Hospital School, had previously been jailed for 108 days for contempt and fined €700 per day for attending the school's campus, and his appeal is due before the Court of Appeal later that month.
In court, 13 Feb 2023Suspect · 1 report
Timeline
every report naming Martina Burke, newest firstEach entry shows how that report described them.
- 17 Apr2026Ammi and Martina Burke appeal decision finding them guilty of criminal contempt of courtconvicted, Martina Burke, female, named, irish (judged from name)Martina Burke
- 1 Apr2026WATCH: Burke women arrested at Enoch prison visit - Griptconvicted, Martina Burke, female, named at arrest, irish (judged from name)Martina Burke
- 31 Mar2026Jailed mother and daughter Martina and Ammi Burke set to sleep on floor tonightconvicted, Martina Burke, female, named, irish (judged from name)Martina Burke
- 31 Mar2026Martina and Ammi Burke arrested - Griptconvicted, Martina Burke, female, named at arrest, irish (judged from name)Martina Burke
- 31 Mar2026Martina and Ammi Burke arrested at Castlerea Prison over contempt rulingconvicted, Martina Burke, female, named, irish (judged from name)Martina Burke
- 26 Mar2026Gardaí play waiting game for Martina and Ammi Burke with no sign of mother and daughter in Castlebarconvicted, Martina Burke, female, named, irish (judged from name)Martina Burke
- 6 Mar2026Major update as garda vans descend on Enoch Burke family homeconvicted, Martina Burke, female, named, irish (judged from name)Martina Burke
- 4 Mar2026Enoch Burke's mother and sister jailed for contempt of courtconvicted, Martina Burke, female, named, irish (judged from name)Martina Burke
- 4 Mar2026Enoch Burke's mother and sister jailed for contempt of courtconvicted, Martina Burke, female, named, irish (judged from name)Martina Burke
- 4 Mar2026Court orders jailing of Enoch Burke's mother and sisterconvicted, Martina Burke, named, irish (judged from name)Martina Burke
- 4 Mar2026Time to halt Burke ‘family circus’: Judge sentences Enoch Burke’s mother and sister to prison for two weeksconvicted, Martina Burke, female, named, irish (judged from name)Martina Burke
- 25 Feb2026Judgement on Burke women court conduct next week - Griptsuspect, Martina Burke, female, named, irish (judged from name)Martina Burke
- 25 Feb2026Ruling next week on whether Burkes in contempt of courtaccused, Martina Burke, female, named, irish (judged from name)Martina Burke
- 25 Feb2026Enoch Burke’s mother says her ‘godly’ and ‘righteous’ son should never have been jailedaccused, Martina Burke, female, named, irish (judged from name)Martina Burke
- 17 Dec2025Enoch Burke will not be prosecuted for criminal contempt, Attorney General tells High Courtaccused, Martina, female, namedMartina
- 17 Dec2025AG not taking contempt proceedings against Burkessuspect, Martina, named, irish (judged from name)Martina
- 22 Nov2025'This is not normal behaviour': Why three more Burkes could be facing jail for contempt of courtsuspect, Martina Burke, female, named, irish (judged from name)Martina Burke
- 18 Nov2025Enoch Burke ordered back to prison, as mother and two siblings face criminal contempt chargessuspect, Martina Burke, named, irish (judged from name)Martina Burke
- 12 Nov2025Judge to decide next week whether Enoch Burke should return to prisonsuspect, Martina Burke, named, irish (judged from name)Martina Burke
- 5 Nov2025Judge considering whether Enoch Burke should go to prison for contempt of court againsuspect, Martina Burke, named, irish (judged from name)Martina Burke
- 5 Nov2025Burkes removed from High Court - Griptsuspect, Martina Burke, named, irish (judged from name)Martina Burke
- 17 Dec2024Enoch Burke’s father Sean jailed for courtroom assault on gardasuspect, Martina Burke, female, named, irish (judged from name)Martina Burke
- 9 Dec2024Enoch Burke’s father tells court he does not recall throwing female garda to the groundaccused, Martina Burke, female, named, irish (judged from name)Martina Burke
- 8 Dec2023Enoch Burke's mother and sister removed from Court of Appeal for shouting at barristers and judgesuspect, Martina Burke, named, irish (judged from name)Martina Burke
- 7 Mar2023Violence in Court as Enoch Burke loses appeal to stay away from midlands school in Transgendarism casesuspect, Martina Burke, female, named, irish (judged from name)Martina Burke
- 7 Mar2023One charged after Enoch Burke loses appeal against Wilson’s Hospital School amid chaotic courtroom scenesaccused, Martina Burke, female, named, irish (judged from name)Martina Burke
- 28 Feb2023Enoch Burke: Fines imposed over attendance at Co Westmeath school reach €23,100accused, Martina Burke, named, irish (judged from name)Martina Burke
- 13 Feb2023Enoch Burke informed appeal against injunctions may not proceed if teacher remains in contempt of court orders to stay away from Co Westmeath Schoolsuspect, Martina Burke, female, named, irish (judged from name)Martina Burke
- 13 Feb2023Enoch Burke physically removed from courtroom by gardai - againsuspect, Martina Burke, female, named, irish (judged from name)Martina Burke
- 13 Feb2023Enoch Burke removed from High Court again for interrupting proceedingssuspect, Martina Burke, female, named, irish (judged from name)Martina Burke
- 13 Dec2022Jailed Midlands teacher to remain behind bars for Christmassuspect, Martina Burke, female, named, irish (judged from name)Martina Burke
- 13 Dec2022Jailed teacher to remain in prison for Christmassuspect, Martina Burke, female, named, irish (judged from name)Martina Burke
- 14 Oct2022'Have you a problem with religious rights?’ -- Enoch Burke's mother removed from court after outburstsuspect, Martina Burke, female, named, irish (judged from name)Martina Burke
- 14 Oct2022Burke says February date is 'insult to rule of law'suspect, Martina Burke, female, named, irish (judged from name)Martina 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.