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Enoch Burke to remain behind bars for Christmas

Summary

Enoch Burke, a history and German teacher at Wilson's Hospital School in Co. Westmeath, remains in Mountjoy Prison for the Christmas period after refusing to comply with a High Court injunction that ordered him to stay away from the school and not teach. He argued that the injunction violated his religious beliefs against transgendarism and that complying would mean accepting transgendarism, which he said would breach his Christian faith. Burke pleaded for release, citing his religious convictions and the holiday season, and criticized the court for not allowing him to appear in person. Judge Conor Dignam refused to release him, stating Burke had not purged his contempt and had not complied with the court's valid order. Burke's parents protested the decision, claiming his release was justified by his religious rights. The case remains pending before the High Court, with further hearings scheduled for February.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Enoch Burke to remain behind bars for Christmas. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

• Christmas Other
• 2022-12-13 Publication

Why: Despite refusing to purge his contempt Mr Burke, via a video link from Mountjoy Prison, asked Mr Justice Conor Dignam on Tuesday morning to release him from custody, telling the court that he was "not a thief, a murderer or a drug dealer" and was behind bars because of his religious objections to transgendarism. CNI source report

Places mentioned

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Stage Sentence

Read the original CNI report