Enoch Burke: ‘I have to do what is right’
Enoch Burke returned to Wilson’s Hospital School in Multyfarnham last week, in breach of a High Court order, and said that he “has to do what’s right”.
The teacher from Castlebar told the Westmeath Examiner on Friday, August 23, that prison is a “horrible place” but that he doesn’t plan to stop turning up at the school any time soon.
Mr Burke was suspended from teaching at Wilson’s in June 2022 following issues arising from his behaviour and refusal to address a transgender student by their new name and preferred pronouns of ‘they/them’.
After he repeatedly turned up at the school to teach following his suspension, the school successfully sought a High Court injunction barring Mr Burke from the premises.
The injunction was ignored, and Mr Burke was arrested and remanded in Mountjoy Prison for contempt. He has since spent more than 400 days in prison.
He was released in June, despite refusing to comply with the court order, as the school was on break.
He returned to Wilson’s when the school reopened for a first-year induction day last Thursday. Asked why he returned, Mr Burke said “this is the place for me to be”.
“I have a job here, I’m employed here, I work here, and the only reason the school and the courts are denying me my rights is that I said I would not call a young boy a girl,” he said.
“It’s now two years since August 2022, and the courts in this country are refusing to give people their rights. That’s a serious situation where we have judges not upholding the constitution.”
When asked if he was fearful of returning to Mountjoy, Mr Burke stated that he has to do what he feels is right.
“Obviously, prison is a terrible place; nobody wants to go to prison, but I have to do the right thing and stand up for what’s right,” he said.
“I’m obliged to stand up for my rights, the rights of everyone in this country, and this is something that is manifestly wrong.”
Mr Burke arrived at the school at the beginning of the working day last Thursday and Friday, braving the wind and rain, pacing in front of the building before leaving at the end of each day.