Enoch Burke reportedly returns to his former school in protest ahead of new term

Enoch Burke reportedly returned to Wilson's Hospital School this morning.

The former teacher is continuing his protest against his dismissal last year, according to reports. According to The Irish Independent and The Irish Times, Mr Burke arrived at Wilson's Hospital School this morning and "took up position in a corridor" as his fine now exceeds €148,000. The Irish Times reports that there have been no reports to An Garda Síochána regarding Mr Burke’s presence in the school.

A statement from a family spokesperson said Enoch "will not endorse an ideology which he as a Christian disagrees with and which will have serious repercussions for young people".

"He has a right to his religious beliefs and believes it is wrong that he is being denied access to his place of work," it added.

The school, which is situated in Multyfarnham, Co. Westmeath, suspended the former teacher in August of last year, following a refusal by Burke, an evangelical Christian, to refer to a student by their preferred pronouns. Following his dismissal, Burke was then involved in a long-running legal battle with his former employer, who dismissed him for alleged gross misconduct. Mr Burke argued against this disciplinary process, his suspension from teaching, and the subsequent decision to dismiss him, calling his former employer's acts "unlawful." Mr Burke denies the allegation of gross misconduct made by the school. He is appealing the disciplinary hearing which resulted in his dismissal through the courts. The high-profile case became subject to much publicity as members of his family were forcibly removed from court after attempting to disrupt proceedings. In July, the school won the High Court case which upheld its decision to suspend Burke last year. With the costs awarded to the school on Monday, Mr Burke was ordered to refrain from trespassing on the premises of the school. However, he was not prevented from attending outside the school gates.

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