Ireland Named in reporting
Niamh McShane
26 reports across 6 cases, 1 Sep 2022 to 3 Jun 2026
Key facts
from every report naming them- Named as
- Victim
- Offences
- Contempt of court, Contempt of court (prison transfer challenge), Contempt of court (barred from court), Injunction (professional misconduct; trespass)
- Where
- Co. Westmeath, Co. Dublin
- Reporting
- 26 reports, 1 Sep 2022 to 3 Jun 2026
- Outlets
- galwaybeo.ie, irishtimes.com, rte.ie, thejournal.ie, longfordleader.ie, gript.ie, leinsterexpress.ie, extra.ie, irishmirror.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 2023Victim · 11 reports - High Court rules prison transfer in Dublin contempt case lawful Contempt of court (prison transfer challenge) · Co. Dublin
Enoch Burke, an evangelical Christian teacher, has spent more than 600 days in prison in separate spells for contempt of a court order banning him from Wilson's Hospital School in Co Westmeath, where he was dismissed over his conduct towards then-principal Niamh McShane at a religious event in June 2022. Burke was transferred from Mountjoy Prison in Dublin to Castlerea Prison in Co Roscommon on 1 March 2026 after losing enhanced status. On 18 March 2026, the High Court ruled the transfer was lawful and directed Burke to pay the legal costs of the prison governors.
In court, 12 Mar 2026Victim · 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 2022Victim · 7 reports - Teacher Enoch Burke barred from Dublin High Court for contempt Contempt of court (barred from court) · Co. Dublin
Enoch Burke, a History and teacher suspended on full pay by Wilson's Hospital School in Multyfarnham, Co Westmeath, was accused of breaching a temporary High Court injunction by attending the school on 31 August and 1 September 2022. He was jailed for contempt in early October 2022 after refusing to undertake to obey a High Court order, and on 21 December 2022 the High Court ordered his release from Mountjoy Prison without him purging his contempt. In late March 2023 former principal Niamh McShane gave evidence about his conduct towards her at a school dinner, and Justice Alexander Owens had found Burke in contempt of the face of the court and barred him from the proceedings.
In court, 1 Sep 2022Victim · 1 report - 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 2026Victim · 1 report - 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 2022Victim · 5 reports
Timeline
every report naming Niamh McShane, newest firstEach entry shows how that report described them.
- 3 Jun2026Jailed Enoch Burke no longer getting his salary after being formally dismissedvictim, Niamh McShane, female, irish (judged from name)Niamh McShane
- 12 Mar2026Enoch Burke was moved to Castlerea jail for own safety, High Court hearsvictim, Niamh McShane, irish (judged from name)Niamh McShane
- 27 Feb2024Burke still getting full salary in jail 'unsatisfactory'victim, Niamh McShane, female, irish (judged from name)Niamh McShane
- 29 Mar2023Former principal says she 'felt hunted' by Enoch Burke after 'request' on student's namevictim, Niamh McShane, female, irish (judged from name)Niamh McShane
- 28 Feb2023Enoch Burke: Fines imposed over attendance at Co Westmeath school reach €23,100victim, Niamh McShane, irish (judged from name)Niamh McShane
- 13 Feb2023Enoch Burke informed appeal against injunctions may not proceed if teacher remains in contempt of court orders to stay away from Co Westmeath Schoolvictim, Niamh McShane, female, irish (judged from name)Niamh McShane
- 10 Feb2023Enoch and Ammi Burke removed from High Court by gardaívictim, Niamh McShane, female, irish (judged from name)Niamh McShane
- 27 Jan2023School seeks to amend court documents in action against Enoch Burkevictim, Niamh McShane, female, irish (judged from name)Niamh McShane
- 26 Jan2023Judge rules that Midlands teacher should be fined €700 for every day he refuses to comply with court ordervictim, Niamh McShane, female, irish (judged from name)Niamh McShane
- 18 Jan2023Enoch Burke refuses court’s conditions to gaining injunction against school - Griptvictim, Niamh McShane, female, irish (judged from name)Niamh McShane
- 17 Jan2023Judge won't grant Enoch Burke injunction unless he complies with court order to stay away from schoolvictim, Niamh McShane, female, irish (judged from name)Niamh McShane
- 17 Jan2023High Court Decision on order to sequester Enoch Burke's assets expected late next week - Griptvictim, Niamh McShane, female, irish (judged from name)Niamh McShane
- 12 Jan2023Judge to rule next week on Enoch Burke’s bid to halt ‘sham’ disciplinary processvictim, Niamh McShane, female, irish (judged from name)Niamh McShane
- 4 Oct2022Jailed midlands teacher could be in prison until at least Christmasvictim, Niamh McShane, female, irish (judged from name)Niamh McShane
- 4 Oct2022Jailed Midlands teacher Enoch Burke appeals High Court decision requiring him to stay away from school where he is employedvictim, Niamh McShane, female, irish (judged from name)Niamh McShane
- 4 Oct2022Jailed teacher Enoch Burke appeals order preventing him from attending at schoolvictim, Niamh McShane, female, irish (judged from name)Niamh McShane
- 12 Sep2022Enoch Burke claims no lawful basis for his paid suspension from schoolvictim, Niamh McShane, female, irish (judged from name)Niamh McShane
- 7 Sep2022Teacher Enoch Burke to remain in prison after refusing to purge contempt of courtvictim, Niamh McShane, female, irish (judged from name)Niamh McShane
- 7 Sep2022Jailed Teacher Enoch Burke Refuses To Purge Contemptvictim, Niamh McShane, female, irish (judged from name)Niamh McShane
- 7 Sep2022Enoch Burke tells court even if he remains in prison ‘for the next 100 years’, he will not compromise beliefsvictim, Niamh McShane, female, irish (judged from name)Niamh McShane
- 5 Sep2022Teacher jailed over refusal to comply with temporary injunctionvictim, Niamh McShane, female, irish (judged from name)Niamh McShane
- 5 Sep2022Teacher Enoch Burke sent to prison after being found guilty of contempt of courtvictim, Niamh McShane, female, irish (judged from name)Niamh McShane
- 3 Sep2022Teacher Facing Arrest In Row Over Transgender Pronounsvictim, Niamh McShane, female, irish (judged from name)Niamh McShane
- 2 Sep2022Court orders arrest of Enoch Burke for alleged contemptvictim, Niamh McShane, female, irish (judged from name)Niamh McShane
- 2 Sep2022Order made for teacher's arrest over alleged failure to comply with injunctionvictim, Niamh McShane, female, irish (judged from name)Niamh McShane
- 1 Sep2022School seeks court order that could see suspended teacher Enoch Burke jailedvictim, Niamh McShane, female, irish (judged from name)Niamh McShane
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.