Courts / Westmeath / Report

Enoch Burke must pay costs of Wilson's Hospital School action

Date
2023-07-17

Stage
Charge Or Pretrial

Primary locality
Multyfarnham

Summary

Schoolteacher Enoch Burke, dismissed from Wilson's Hospital School for alleged gross misconduct, was ordered by Mr Justice Alexander Owens to pay the school legal costs in a High Court action. Burke, who denied wrongdoing, argued that his suspension stemmed from his opposition to transgenderism and a school directive to refer to a student wishing to transition with a different name and pronoun. He claimed the disciplinary process breached his constitutional rights, including freedom of expression of religious beliefs. The court found Burke had been lawfully suspended and awarded the school costs, while restraining him from trespassing on the school premises. Burke appealed the dismissal, but a temporary injunction was granted to halt the appeal hearing, a move he contested. The case remains at the disciplinary appeal stage.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Enoch Burke must pay costs of Wilson's Hospital School action. Procedural stage: charge_or_pretrial

When:

March 28 Hearing Or Sentence
August 2022 Hearing Or Sentence
2023-07-17 Publication

Why: It submitted that Mr Burke was dismissed from his position because he had intimidated and harassed a colleague and had breached the confidence of a student in the school who wished to transition. CNI source report