Enoch Burke refused injunction over disciplinary hearing

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

Enoch Burke’s application to halt disciplinary proceedings was refused by the High Court on 18 January 2023.

The previous day, Mr Justice Conor Dignam had found that Burke had a strong case likely to succeed at trial. The court was prepared to grant the injunction until the full hearing of the dispute if Burke complied with an order made in September directing him to stay away from Wilson’s Hospital School while suspended on pay.

The judge said Burke’s stated intention to keep attending the school in Co Westmeath, contrary to court orders, meant the balance of justice weighed against granting the injunction. The disciplinary process concerned allegations about his behaviour towards the former principal at a school function; no finding on those allegations had been made.

The ruling cleared the way for the disciplinary hearing to proceed. Burke may seek to appeal, and the full dispute over his suspension remained to be determined.