The High Court has ruled that Enoch Burke still owes €208,268.18 in contempt fines arising from repeated breaches of court orders preventing him from trespassing on Wilson’s Hospital School property.
Mr Justice Cregan calculated total fines of €273,200, covering school days on which Burke attended the property in breach of court orders between January 2023 and January 2026. The figure is substantially below the school’s initial calculation of €452,100 because that calculation included weekends and bank holidays.
The fines began at €700 per school day after a High Court order made on 26 January 2023. Later orders increased the daily amount to €1,400 and then €2,000.
The court calculated fines of €25,200 for 36 school days from January to March 2023, €16,800 for 24 days between April and May 2023, €137,200 for 98 days in 2025, €92,000 for a further 46 days later that year and €2,000 for one day in January 2026.
No fines were counted for periods when Burke was in prison, or for one period in 2023 when no daily fine had been imposed for breaches of the permanent injunction.
The court credited almost €65,000 already recovered towards the fines. That money came from sums collected through Burke’s salary and from his Bank of Ireland account, after deductions including €15,000 damages paid to the school and €12,300 in receiver’s fees and VAT.
Mr Justice Cregan said the court had concerns about whether the fines were proportionate to Burke’s income as a teacher. However, Burke had refused previous requests to provide details of his assets and liabilities, leaving the court unable to assess a reduction.
The ruling therefore settles the current amount outstanding, but leaves open a possible proportionality challenge if Burke files a statement of affairs. The judge also noted that Burke had not appealed the orders imposing the fines.