High Court to hold contempt of court hearing against Enoch Burke's mother and sister

The judge also made a production order for jailed teacher Enoch Burke (centre) to join the proceedings against his his mother Martina Burke (left) and his sister Ammi Burke (right) on Wednesday by videolink. File picture

A judge has said he will hold a hearing into whether Enoch Burke's mother and sister were in contempt of court in relation to their behaviour last week when a High Court case involving the teacher had to be temporarily suspended.

Mr Justice Brian Cregan at the High Court on Monday told Enoch Burke’s mother Martina and his sister Ammi that they could represent themselves or get legal representation for the hearing next Wednesday.

Addressing the two women directly, the judge said he will hear them on the matter on Wednesday.

Enoch Burke’s mother Martina stood up in court and said she “will always speak out when injustice is done”. “It is my duty as a parent,” she added.

The judge said the pair will be given the full right of audience when the case comes before the court on Wednesday.

Mr Justice Brian Cregan also made a production order for jailed teacher Enoch Burke to join the proceedings on Wednesday by videolink when the issue of costs will be decided in relation to his failed attempt to challenge the membership of a disciplinary appeal panel convened to hear his appeal over his dismissal from Wilson’s Hospital School.

On that occasion, Mr Justice Cregan ruled the case was moot, or pointless.

The judge made the ruling in circumstances where two of the panel’s three members had resigned, and the remaining member accepted that she could play no further role in the jailed schoolteacher’s appeal.

The ruling means a new panel must be appointed to hear Mr Burke’s appeal of his dismissal. It will be the third panel convened to hear the appeal.

Burke was dismissed from his position at the Co Westmeath school over his conduct towards the then principal at a school religious event in June 2022. She had earlier requested teachers to address a student by a new name and the pronouns “they” and “them”.

The ruling followed a chaotic hearing at the Four Courts on Friday, which was suspended temporarily after the judge directed Enoch Burke be returned to Mountjoy Prison and re-join proceedings via videolink.

The judge earlier had warned that, in the event of his or his family’s disruption of the hearing, he would direct Mr Burke’s participation in the proceedings from the prison, where he is currently incarcerated for failing to comply with court orders banning him from the school.

After disrupting lawyers for the school in the midst of making submissions to the court, Mr Burke was escorted from the court by prison guards.

The judge also directed gardaí to remove his sister Ammi and mother Martina, who had begun shouting at the judge after he directed Mr Burke’s removal.