Family says Enoch Burke has been moved from Mountjoy to Castlerea Prison

Enoch Burke was moved, according to his family, to the medium security prison in Roscommon on Sunday morning, just over 70km from the Burke home in Castlebar. Picture: Brian Lawless/PA Wire

Enoch Burke has been moved from Mountjoy Prison in Dublin to Castlerea Prison in Roscommon, his family has said.

The jailed teacher, who has spent over 600 days in separate spells in jail, was moved to the medium security prison in Roscommon on Sunday morning, just over 70km from the Burke home in Castlebar.

In the High Court on Monday, his brother Isaac Burke sought the release of his brother. He said Enoch Burke was given no reason whatsoever for the move from Mountjoy Prison.

He said a High Court order of January this year specified the teacher be detained at Mountjoy Prison.

Isaac Burke, addressing the court by videolink, said Enoch Burke had always made clear he should not be detained at all, but he has now been moved to Castlerea and this was a serious matter.

He said Enoch Burke on Sunday “without warning or notice was told to gather his belongings, put in a prison van and not told where he was going". When he got to Castlerea Prison at around lunch time, he said Enoch Burke was told where he was.

He said Enoch Burke was “given no reason whatsoever for the move”. He said he was asking for Enoch Burke’s release and said it was a matter “in relation to the deprivation of liberty”. 

Mr Justice Brian Cregan said all he could do was note the matter had been mentioned before him. The judge said there was no evidence before him that Mr Burke had been moved to Castlerea Prison, though he did not doubt Isaac Burke was telling the truth, but there was no evidence before the court.

He said Mr Burke could bring an application before the court on Tuesday morning grounded on a short affidavit in relation to the matter.

Mr Burke replied he could tell the judge his brother was in Castlerea Prison and he said it should be of concern that an order of the court had been allegedly breached by the prison authorities.

Mr Justice Cregan said he would hear an application on the matter which is brought before the court. The judge said it was a matter of a short affidavit to the court outlining the facts to the court and he could hear the application on Tuesday.