Bishop of Kilmore confronted by family members of Enoch Burke

The confrontation of the Bishop of Kilmore by members of jailed teacher Enoch Burke’s family outside a Cavan filling station has been described as “unmannerly” by the bishop himself Martin Hayes. A video of the exchange was posted online to Josiah Burke’s YouTube account last week and has since been viewed more than 83,000 times.

It shows Bishop Hayes, who oversees chaplaincy in the State’s prisons for the Catholic Church, being bombarded with questions as he attempts to get to his car.

Present is Josiah Burke, his mother Martina and the camera phone holder, and Bishop Hayes is confronted as he exits the Maxol Service Station at Cullies. The near 10-minute video is titled: ‘Irish Bishop speechless in petrol station over jailed teacher stance’.

“Do you think the parents of this country want that taught to their children in schools? That you can change your gender Bishop. Do think that’s what the parents of this country want for their children?” asks Mrs Burke.

The bishop is told Enoch Burke has been in prison for 500 days. They claim their son and brother is in jail for opposing the ideology of “transgenderism” and is standing up for his Christian beliefs and his constitutional right to freedom of expression.

He remains in prison due to his refusal to purge his contempt of court over turning up at St Wilson’s Hospital School near Mullingar in breach of a court order. The exchange with Bishop Hayes occurred in the same week as a disciplinary appeals panel (DAP) sat to consider Burke’s dismissal from his teaching post.

As Bishop Hayes looks to move past the Burke family, he asks the person behind the recording to “take down the camera please”, before more allegations are made about Mountjoy prisoners being “denied” constitutional rights.

Last month Bishop Hayes suggested a repurposing of part of the prison that houses the chapel amounted to prisoners’ rights to expression of religion being “suppressed”.

“Have you nothing to say Bishop?” asks Mrs Burke, probing whether Bishop Hayes is aware of her son’s own case.

She states that Burke is being “held captive” because of his religious beliefs.

“Standing up against transgenderism, which no parent in this country wants.”

“I do not like being doorstepped,” replies Bishop Hayes sternly, amid all the questions.

He then describes the confrontation as “unmannerly”, and “not the right way to engage with anyone”.

Ms Burke claims that she was just at the local filling station “to get a cup of tea”.

“How would we know anything about you?” she states.

“Well obviously you have a camera ready,” retorts Bishop Hayes, before bidding the Burkes “God Bless”.

“I’ve nothing to say because I do not like the manner you have approached me,” he tells them.

“This is a pattern that you and your family are adopting.”

Ms Burke presses: “Do you agree with Transgenderism?”

“I have absolutely nothing to say to you,” the bishop says excusing himself and proceeding to his car.

“Unbelievable,” claims the camera holder as she films Bishop Hayes driving from the forecourt.

Josiah Burke and his mother both address the camera after. “Just down the corridor, less than a minute [from Mountjoy chapel] is a cell, a small tiny cell, and in that cell is a young teacher by the name of Enoch Burke, who has spent 500 days in that cell, denied his religious rights.”

Martina says she feels saddened by Bishop Hayes’ response.

“It’s mind boggling. It’s very sad to be honest.”

Bishop Hayes was contacted by the Celt for comment but none was forthcoming by time of going to print.