Enoch Burke has been at the centre of a trans right row in Ireland for over two years now – but he’s not the only member of his family facing endless legal woes.
In May 2022, the former history teacher told the headteacher at his school in County Westmeath that his Evangelical Christian beliefs meant he ‘opposed transgenderism’ and later criticised his boss’ ‘demand’ to use the child’s new name in front of staff and students.
It sparked a chain of events that has led to him being jailed for repeatedly showing up at Wilson’s Hospital School in County Westmeath after being sacked, and entering the staff room saying he was there to do his job.
Enoch has spent over 300 days in Mountjoy Prison in Dublin and has no prospect of release because he refuses to comply with a court order to stay away from the school premises. Earlier this year, he refused a High Court offer to spend Easter out of prison and accused the judge of colluding with the school.
Earlier this week, Enoch’s sister Ammi lost an unlawful dismissal appeal at the Court of Appeal and was criticised for her ‘utterly appalling and egregious’ behaviour during proceedings.
Pictured: Enoch Burke seen arriving at the High Court in Dublin in February 2023 during his ongoing dispute with his ex-employer
Meanwhile, Enoch’s father Sean and brother Simeon have also faced legal issues of their own in recent months – having passionately supported the teacher during various hearings in Dublin’s Four Courts.
Deeply religious couple Sean and Martina Burke, from County Mayo, West Ireland, share 10 children and opted to homeschool them.
Here FEMAIL delves into the Burke family’s legal battles – as Enoch faces an indefinite jail sentence.
Ammi Burke’s ‘utterly appalling’ behaviour in Court
At the end of 2019, Enoch’s sister Ammi was sacked from her job as a junior associate at Dublin-based law firm Arthur Cox.
The solicitor initially took her case to the Workplace Relations Commission – but this was dismissed in 2022 as a result of ‘sustained and deliberate obstruction and disruptions’ by Ammi’s mother Martina.
Following the WRC’s rejection, Ammi’s took her case to the High Court, where she continued to argue she had been unfairly dismissed by the law firm.
However, the High Court threw out Ammi’s judicial review mid-hearing as a result of the solicitor’s ‘utterly appalling and egregious’ behaviour in the courtroom.
This week, the Court of Appeal upheld the High Court’s decision to throw out Ammi’s case and ordered her to pay her former employer’s legal fees.
Burke’s sister Ammi is forcibly removed from the Court of Appeal in March 2023 for interrupting a judgment being read out
Pictured: Mother-of-10 Martina Burke and daughter Ammi seen supporting Enoch’s case in a video posted on X
During proceedings, Ammi asked the court not to make a cost order against her and complained about how her appeal hearings had been conducted.
A spokesperson said: ‘An unsuccessful appellant cannot avoid a costs order by impermissibly complaining that the judgment was wrong.’
The Court of Appeal judge has now upheld the High Court’s ruling that states Ammi must pay the bulk of the High Court fees.
However, they refused a request from Arthur Cox for Ammi to pay all reasonable costs incurred as a mark of ‘disapproval’ towards her conduct in the courtroom.
Instead, the judge stated their judgement made it ‘clearly evident’ that they did not approve of Ammi’s behaviour.
Her appeal had been cut short in court previously when Ms Burke was told she was ‘making a show of herself’.
That occurred after she attempted to make the Court of Appeal president Judge George Birmingham recuse himself, because he was previously involved in hearing her brother’s case.
The judges considered her sworn statement supporting her application before they ruled it did not ‘remotely approach the threshold to require or justify a recusal’. Ms Burke said she did not accept this decision and that she should have been allowed to make oral submissions to the court as part of her application.
Ms Burke had submitted an affidavit, in which she quoted from a report produced by the former principal of Wilson’s Hospital School, where her brother used to teach. She highlighted sections of the report which dealt with Mr Burke’s refusal to accept transgenderism.
She maintained that Judge Birmingham had ‘turned a blind eye’ to this report when the Court of Appeal upheld the validity of the injunctions obtained by the school to prevent Mr Burke from attending the school premises.
Ms Burke stated: ‘In circumstances where the President, the most senior judge to have heard Mr Burke’s case, has denied Mr Burke his constitutional rights in his appeal last year, showing clear disregard toward the Constitution and its guarantees, the reasonable person would have a reasonable apprehension that there will not be a fair and impartial hearing in the present appeal, involving questions around the constitutional right to a fair trial and the right of access to the courts.
In May this year, Ms Burke was also found guilty of obstructing a garda during a ‘commotion’ on 7th March last year at the Four Courts.
During the incident, her father ‘flung’ a female garda to the ground behaving ‘like a red rag to a bull’ after his wife was escorted out of court.
Ms Burke was issued with a €400 fine and ordered to pay it within a year, however she’s said she will appeal the decision.
Despite this, Ms Burke and her mother Martina had to be removed from a Court of Appeal hearing in December 2023, after the women entered the courtroom and started shouting at barristers and the judge.
They accused the court of ‘making a fool’ of Enoch Burke and of corruption by allowing Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission Eoin Lawlor to attend while Enoch was refused permission to attend in person.
Sean guilty of ‘flinging female garda to the ground’
Enoch’s father held up a sign outside the school in December 2023 reading: ‘Christmas in Mountjoy for Christian teacher’
In January, Enoch’s father Sean Burke pleaded not guilty to assaulting a female garda during an ‘commotion’ at Dublin’s Four Courts, which houses the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal, High Court and Dublin Circuit Court.
Over the past two years, the father-of-10 has been vocal in his support for Enoch and stood outside Wilson’s Hospital School in December 2023 with a sign reading: ‘Christmas in Mountjoy for Christian teacher.’
Sean assaulted Garda Victoria Fisher on 7 March 2023, the same day his son Enoch’s case was taken to the Court of Appeal. The judge decided to maintain a court order stating that Enoch must stay away from Wilson’s Hospital School premises.
The father-of-10 pleaded not guilty at Dublin District court and pledged to represent himself in proceedings. Sean defiantly said that the court hearing would last ‘an hour, maybe two’, according to the Irish Independent.
However, local media reports the hearing began before midday on 9 May and ended at around 11pm.
The trial heard Sean, who is in his 60s, ‘flung’ Victoria Fisher to the ground ‘like a red rag to a bull’ after his wife was escorted out of the Court of Appeal.
Enoch Burke’s brother Isaac, sister Ammi and parents Sean and Martina Burke seen arriving at Dublins High Court in Dublin in March 2024
Adding to Ammi’s legal woes, Sean’s daughter pleaded not guilty to obstructing a garda, who had arrested younger brother Simeon for a ‘volatile’ breach of the peace.
Judge Michele Finan found Sean and Ammi guilty of the charges, which carry a maximum sentence of six months imprisonment. Meanwhile, obstruction of arrest can result in one year in prison.
The judge said she believed people had ‘lost the run of themselves’ during the incident and applied the Probation Act for Sean Burke, which means he will not have a recorded conviction.
She noted Sean’s previous lack of criminal record and said she believed he acted out of concern for his wife – but said there was no justification for assaulting the garda.
Ammi was also ordered to pay a €400 fine, which must be paid within a year. However, Ammi told the court she has no intention of paying it.
Simeon’s ‘volatile’ breach of peace
Enoch Burke’s brother Simeon (centre), sister Ammi and mother Martina Burke and other family members arriving at the The Criminal Courts of Justice earlier this year
Simeon Burke was also charged for a ‘volatile’ breach of the peace, which was later overturned. during the Burke family’s ‘commotion’ at the Court of Appeal.
Although Judge John Martin said Simeon’s behaviour in the courtroom was ‘unbecoming’, he ruled that it did not meet the requirements for a public order offence.
Simeon – who was also representing himself – had previously been convicted under Section 6 of Public Order, which states that the person had engaged in ‘threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour with intent to provoke a breach of the peace’.
The Irish Times reports Judge Martin said: ‘I have heard evidence that he strongly resisted [gardaí] and was obstructing them and was crying terms concerning transgenderism and that gardaí should deploy their resources to other parts of the city.
‘Does it reach the criminal standard? I am afraid it doesn’t and I am allowing the appeal.’
Enoch’s indefinite jail sentence
Former History and German teacher Enoch Burke seen outside Wilson’s Hospital School in January, violating their court order to stay away
Enoch Burke’s mother, father, sister and brother seen protesting outside Ballinrobe Community School in November on the day it was being visited by Norma Foley, the Minister for Education
In March, the Irish High Court offered to release Enoch from prison over Easter in the hope that he would reflect over his actions and ‘find a better way’ to express his faith without returning to the school.
During the hearing, Enoch accused the judge of working with the school’s lawyers and interrupted him on multiple occasions.
His mother Martina and sister Amni were also told to leave the courtroom. Meanwhile, his brother Issac was also forcibly removed twice.
As a result, Enoch now faces an indefinite jail sentence as he has repeatedly refused offers from the High Court with the condition he stays away from his former school.
Burke seen arriving at the High Court, Dublin, after he was committed to Mountjoy Prison in Dublin for breaching a temporary court order that he was to stay away from his workplace
Wilson’s Hospital School in County Westmeath, Ireland. The former teacher took issue with the former headteacher asking staff to refer to a transgender student by their new name and pronouns
In Spring 2022, headteacher Niamh McShane sent an email to her staff informing them of the student’s new name and pronouns.
After receiving the email, Burke is said to have raised his issue with the change of pronouns during a staff meeting on May.
While giving evidence in a later trial, deputy headteacher John Galligan said that Burke ‘erupted’ during the meeting and ‘changed colour completely’.
According to the former deputy head, Burke – whose ‘forte’ was said to have been extracurricular debating – spoke for a ‘good five to eight minutes’.
After this, guidance counsellor Freda Malone told a court that she approached Burke to tell him she was sorry he was so upset and noted that he had tears in his eyes.
In a follow-up meeting between the headteacher, her deputy and Burke, Mr Galligan claimed the jailed teacher repeated how he was ‘opposed to transgenderism’ as a result of his religion.
Following this, Burke is said to have publicly interjected after a religious service celebrating the school’s 260th anniversary to criticise Ms McShane’s supposed ‘demand’ that staff refer to the student by their chosen pronouns.
Burke seen outside Wilson’s Hospital School in County Westmeath after following a bus through the school gates. The school’s new headteacher Frank Milling said that having to lock doors was creating a health and safety issue for faculty
In 2022, Ammi had attended a meeting between Enoch and his former employer, which determined if he was going to be suspended or face any kind of disciplinary.
Enoch’s former boss Niamh McShane submitted a stage-four report to the chair of the board John Rogers about Burke’s outbursts – which prompted the representative to arrange a meeting with the teacher.
The purpose of the meeting was to decide if Burke should be suspended or face any kind of disciplinary.
Burke’s sister Ammi is said to have joined him for the meeting – which was adjourned for 15 minutes by Mr Rodgers, who said it was ‘going nowhere’.
When the representatives returned to the meeting room, the Burkes had left.
After this, the board made the unanimous decision to place Burke on paid leave while they dealt with the misconduct allegation.
According to Mr Galligan, there were growing concerns ‘about what [Burke’s] next protest might and the form it would take’ in the new school year.
Despite being put on leave, Burke is said to have attended a staff meeting at the start of the school year.
Pictured: Enoch Burke seen outside Wilson’s Hospital School in Co Westmeath one week after he was dismissed in January 2023
After repeatedly arriving on school grounds, Burke was allegedly asked to leave ‘every hour’ by the deputy head.
The ex-deputy head said: ‘[Burke] would be there for the day, standing in the room reading from a book. That’s where he remained.’
Mr Galligan says Burke refused to leave the premises – insisting he was ‘there to work and attend meetings’.
In May 2023, the Irish High Court ruled that the school had acted lawfully in suspending Burke and said Enoch had been ‘trespassing’ on their grounds.
In an attempt to keep Burke away from the premises while they conducted the investigation, the school took out a temporary court order against the teacher – which still didn’t deter him.
In August 2022, Enoch was sued by the school for his failure to comply with the court order and later arrested for being in contempt of court.
At his initial hearing on September 6 that year, Mr Burke told Judge Quinn: ‘I am a teacher and I don’t want to go to prison. I want to be in my classroom today, that’s where I was this morning when I was arrested.’
‘I love my school, with its motto Res Non Verba, actions not words, but I am here today because I said I would not call a boy a girl.’
When the case went to the High Court the following week, Burke, who was representing himself, maintained that he would not purge his contempt of court for violating the order, insisting that he was being persecuted for his faith.
When asked by Judge Eileen Roberts if he would abide by the order, Burke said: ‘I cannot do that. I go back to jail as a law-abiding citizen of the state always. But God first.’
Former history and German teacher Burke seen arriving at the Four Courts in Dublin after being dismissed by the school
Addressing the court, Burke said: ‘The question is not will I purge my contempt but how this court order could have been granted?
‘The court is asking me to purge my contempt, but this court has robbed me of my constitutional right. It was wrong what the court did. How can I purge my contempt of that which is wrong?’
But Judge Roberts disagreed with his argument. The teacher was escorted out of the court to prison by three prison guards to loud applause from the public gallery with many hollering: ‘The country is with you Enoch.’
In September 2023, Burke was jailed for a second time after refusing to comply with the High Court order.
The school’s new headteacher Frank Milling said that having to lock doors was creating a health and safety issue for faculty.
On top of this, the headteacher said he was unable to carry out some of his everyday duties as he has to monitor Burke – who has been known to follow cars through the gates.
Enoch’s siblings Ammi and Josiah Burke seen outside an Irish court in October 2023. The pair have been vocal in their support of Enoch
After gaining access by following a bus in January, Mr Milling – who has expressed concern for how the situation is impacting current students – told Burke: ‘Stop. Stop. Get off the property.’
Despite being removed from the premises by two uniformed gardaí, Burke returned to the gates following his release later that same day.
Speaking at the gates, Burke told local press that he had been ‘wrongfully arrested’ for trespassing and insisted he has ‘broken no laws’ and ‘done nothing wrong’, the Irish Independent reports.
In July 2023, Burke was ordered to pay €15,000 to Wilson’s Hospital School to cover their legal fees and for damages.
That September, Burke was jailed for a second time after refusing to comply with the High Court order.
The school’s new headteacher Frank Milling said that having to lock doors was creating a health and safety issue for faculty.
On top of this, the headteacher said he was unable to carry out some of his everyday duties as he has to monitor Burke – who has been known to follow cars through the gates.
After gaining access by following a bus in January, Mr Milling – who has expressed concern for how the situation is impacting current students – told Burke: ‘Stop. Stop. Get off the property.’
Despite being removed from the premises by two uniformed gardaí, Burke returned to the gates following his release later that same day.
Speaking at the gates, Burke told local press that he had been ‘wrongfully arrested’ for trespassing and insisted he has ‘broken no laws’ and ‘done nothing wrong’, the Irish Independent reports.
Who is Enoch Burke and what did he do? Irish teacher has been jailed twice for refusing to stay away from the school that sacked him
Enoch is the son of Martina and Sean Burke and grew up in County Mayo in the West of Ireland.
The deeply religious couple share 10 children and Martina, who is also a qualified teacher, homeschooled each of them.
After this, Enoch went on to achieve undergraduate degrees in History and Theology before later obtaining his MA in Education.
Before Enoch’s issue with the school arose, the family had protested against Covid lockdown restrictions, same-sex marriage and abortion rights in Ireland.
In 2015, Enoch and Martina opposed a mural showing two men hugging that appeared in Dublin in support of same-sex marriage.
Enoch Burke seen arriving at Wilson’s Hospital School in January 2023 and ignoring the court order after being dismissed
Appearing on the show Liveline, the mother and son urged the council to paint over the mural as the artist had not secured planning permission first.
‘It would be great if it was painted over,’ Martina said. ‘That would show fairness.’
In 2020, Enoch self-published the book The Hedonism and Homosexuality of John Piper and Sam Allberry, which criticised the teachings of the American theologians.
Enoch had been a teacher for 10 years before he lost his job at Wilson’s Hospital School in January 2023.
In January 2023, Enoch was officially dismissed from his role at Wilson’s Hospital School for intimidating and harassing a colleague and breaching the confidence of the child who was in the process of transitioning.
At the time, a statement from the school read: ‘He was informed in person at 3:30pm this afternoon in the presence of chairperson of the board of management John Rogers and principal Frank Milling that he was dismissed.’
Enoch Burke being removed by Gardaí on January 25 after following a bus through school gates
Burke appealed the board’s decision to dismiss him – which resulted in the case going to the Irish High Court in March.
Mr Justice Owens excluded the teacher on the first day after he continually interrupted proceedings and refused to comply with rules.
Scenes of pandemonium broke out at the Court of Appeal, as Burke, his parents and three of his siblings were physically dragged out of the courtroom by gardaí.
Enoch’s mother, Martina Burke, accused the judges of ‘bowing to the altar of transgenderism’ while waving a copy of the Constitution.
His sister Ammi, a solicitor, also attempted to argue with the judges mid-ruling, saying her brother’s constitutional rights were not being upheld.
Judge Birmingham asked her to sit down, and then requested that gardaí remove her from the courtroom.
During the hearing, Freda Malone said the school was concerned for the transgender student’s safety and feared Burke would continue making public protests in front of other students.
Meanwhile, Mr Galligan discussed Burke’s initial outburst at the staff meeting and his repeated attempts to remove the teacher from the premises during his suspension.
Following the hearing, Justice Owens made an order restraining Burke from trespassing on the school premises – but noted that this did not prevent him from being outside the gates.
In July, Burke was ordered to pay €15,000 to Wilson’s Hospital School to cover their legal fees and for damages. He is also fined €700 on every occasion he turns up at the school.
Appearing before Justice Alexander Owens, Burke said that objecting to people being transgender was his right.
Justice Mark Heslin said there was ‘no dispute’ that Burke has ‘fragrantly breached’ court orders to stay away from the school.
As a result, the judge ordered that Burke remain in prison ‘indefinitely’ until he agrees to follow the court order and not return to his old workplace.
After finding Burke to be in contempt of court, Justice Mark Heslin asked the teacher on three occasions if he understood the order against him. However, Burke remained silent.
Burke was returned to Mountjoy Prison – where he spent his first prison sentence – and was told he could be released if he agreed to stay away from the school. The former teacher has been imprisoned at the facility since September 8 and has been participating in court hearings via video link.