Jailed schoolteacher Enoch Burke is asking the High Court to halt a Teaching Council inquiry into allegations against him, claiming the inquiry panel is biased.
A fitness to teach inquiry is scheduled to start on Wednesday to consider allegations of professional misconduct against Burke.
The allegations in the main arise from complaints relating to Burke’s trespassing at his one-time workplace, Wilson’s Hospital School, in breach of court orders.
The school suspended and later dismissed Burke over his conduct towards then-principal Niamh McShane at a school religious event in June 2022. The confrontation arose in circumstances where McShane had earlier directed teachers to address a student by a new name and with the pronouns “they” and “them”.
Burke, an evangelical Christian, has maintained this request went against his religious beliefs. He has repeatedly breached the order to stay away from the school.
He is now incarcerated over this contempt of court and has spent more than 700 days in jail over separate spells. Burke was formally dismissed from his role at the Co Westmeath school last month.
Appearing in person before Judge Brian Cregan on Monday, Burke said he was seeking an interim injunction stopping the scheduled fitness to teach inquiry hearing from going ahead.
He is seeking the injunction against the three members of inquiry panel.
Burke submitted that he met the requirements for the granting of an interim injunction, including that his case against the inquiry panel raises a fair issue to be tried.
He claimed that Andy Pike, the inquiry chair, was biased and “cannot approach this inquiry from an objective standpoint”. Burke claimed Pike had promoted social media posts relating to St Patrick’s Day floats that “mocked and parodied” him.
Burke submitted the panel had unfairly “circumscribed” the issues to be considered by the inquiry. He also submitted that a “legal assessor” engaged by the inquiry, senior counsel Lorna Lynch, had “overstepped and exceeded her role” in preliminary hearings held by the inquiry.
Burke also raised issue with the panel’s acceding to a “key witness” giving evidence anonymously. Burke said no reason was provided for the granting of anonymity to John Galligan, a former deputy principal at Wilson’s Hospital School.
The judge gave permission to Burke to serve his proceedings on the inquiry panel members. He directed that the case return on Tuesday, when his application for an interim injunction will be determined.
Read the full article at The Irish Times →📄Source document: Court Orders Regarding Trespassing
2 reports
The Irish TimesIndependent🔒Center6 days agoEnoch Burke, a jailed schoolteacher, is seeking a High Court injunction to stop a Teaching Council inquiry into allegations of professional misconduct against him. The inquiry follows complaints about his trespassing at his former workplace, Wilson’s Hospital School, in violation of court orders. Burke was suspended and later dismissed from the school after a confrontation with the principal over a directive to use gender-neutral language during a religious event. Burke, an evangelical Christian, claimed the directive conflicted with his religious beliefs and has repeatedly violated court-ordr
Bias read (Center): The article presents facts without overtly favoring either side. It reports on Burke's legal actions and the allegations against him neutrally, without using loaded language or emphasizing one perspective over another.
Official sources cited
- court Court Orders Regarding Trespassing
- government Teaching Council Inquiry Schedule
RTÉ NewsState / PublicCenter9 days agoThe Teaching Council will hold a Fitness to Teach inquiry concerning Enoch Burke next week.
Bias read (Center): The article provides a straightforward statement without any apparent framing, word-choice, emphasis, or sourcing that indicates a particular ideological slant. It simply reports the fact that an inquiry will take place.
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