Courts / Offaly / Report

Enoch Burke secures last-gasp injunction over dismissal appeal

Date
2023-07-06

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Tullamore

County
Offaly

Summary

Enoch Burke, a former teacher at Wilson's Hospital secondary school, secured a temporary High Court injunction halting the hearing of his dismissal appeal. The matter was adjourned until the following Tuesday. Burke, who represented himself, argued that ASTI General Secretary Kieran Christie, a member of the three-person appeal panel, should recuse himself due to alleged bias regarding transgender issues. He also claimed the panel failed to obtain a WhatsApp video clip from the school board, which he argued was crucial evidence. The other panel members are Sean Ó Longáin, the chair, and Jack Cleary, the Management Body representative. Justice Eileen Roberts granted the ex-parte application, ruling that Burke had raised fair issues but making no findings of fact on his claims. Burke had previously been jailed for 108 days in Mountjoy Prison for contempt of court after refusing to comply with an order restraining him from attending the school. He was later fined €700 daily for continued breaches. The school board had dismissed Burke for gross misconduct, a decision he denies, claiming his dismissal stems from his objection to using specific pronouns for a student.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Enoch Burke secures last-gasp injunction over dismissal appeal. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

June 2022 Other
Christmas Other
2023-07-06 Publication

Case subjects

Enoch Burke

Applicant

Outcome: Following his refusal to comply with the court's order, Mr Burke was jailed for being in contempt of court and spent 108 days in Mountjoy Prison.

Jack Cleary

Applicant

Kieran Christie

Applicant