On January 14, 2026, the High Court ordered the release of schoolteacher Enoch Burke from Mountjoy Prison, where he had been held since late November 2025 for repeated breaches of court orders.
Mr Justice Brian Cregan directed Burke’s immediate release for “one reason and one reason only”: the interests of the administration of justice. The judge emphasised that Burke needed time outside prison to adequately prepare his legal challenge against the Disciplinary Appeals Panel (DAP). This panel is reviewing whether his dismissal from Wilson’s Hospital School in Co Westmeath was fair.
Burke, originally from Castlebar, Co Mayo, has become a prominent figure in Ireland due to his refusal to use a student’s preferred pronouns in 2022, which led to his suspension and eventual dismissal from the school. He continued attending the premises despite injunctions barring him, resulting in multiple contempt of court findings.
This marks the fourth time Burke has been imprisoned in connection with the dispute. In total, he has spent over 550 days behind bars across these periods.
During the hearing, Burke told the court that if released, he intended to “return to his workplace” — Wilson’s Hospital School — the following day. Justice Cregan responded: “Mr Burke, your ability to shoot yourself in the foot is unparalleled in my experience”.
The release is tied to Burke’s ongoing legal proceedings against the DAP’s composition and process. The panel’s decision on his dismissal appeal remains pending, and the case is expected to return to court for updates.
