Enoch Burke jailed again for refusing to stay away from former school

Former school teacher Enoch Burke has been sent back to prison after refusing to abide by a court order to stay away from his former workplace.

High Court justice Brian Cregan ordered for the immediate re-imprisonment of Mr Burke after he once again returned to Wilson’s Hospital School in Co Westmeath, Ireland.

The evangelical activist has been jailed multiple times over the past three years after he was fired for confronting the school’s head teacher over his suspension for refusing to use a trans student’s name or pronouns.

He was arrested by Gardaí on Monday (19 January) after once again standing outside the school gates after his release from Mountjoy Jail last week.

Mr Burke was spotted outside the school gates on Thursday (15 January), less than 24 hours after he left prison, and returned there again on Friday and Monday morning.

Justice Cregan said he was satisfied that Mr Burke had breached the order by returning to the school, ordering for his immediate committal to Mountjoy Prison for contempt of court, according to the Irish Times.

The judge ordered Mr Burke’s release earlier this month to allow the former teacher a chance to prepare a case he is bringing against the Disciplinary Appeals Panel (DAP).

His release was approved despite confirming to the High Court that he planned to breach the court order immediately upon serving his sentence.

He has previously been described by Justice Cregan as a “baleful and malign presence” and an “intruder” for refusing to stay away from the school.

Mr Burke insists he has a “duty” to attend his former workplace, claiming he still has “a job here”.

While he continues to claim he is being arrested over his views on so-called “transgenderism”, the High Court has refuted this, saying it was about his refusal to stay away from Wilson’s Hospital School.

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