Enoch Burke raises fresh objections about appeals panel

By Cillian Sherlock, Press Association

Enoch Burke has raised fresh objections about an appeals process relating to his dismissal from Wilson’s Hospital School.

The former history and German teacher has been engaged in a legal dispute with the Co Westmeath school since 2022.

He was suspended following incidents arising from a request from the school’s then-principal to address a student by a new name and pronoun, and later dismissed from his position.

Burke has repeatedly argued that the direction was unconstitutional and went against his right to express his religious beliefs.

He has spent more than 680 days in prison after he was found to have violated court orders instructing him not to trespass at the school.

Three disciplinary appeals panels (DAPs) have been formed to handle the case and review his dismissal.

In a statement on Wednesday, Mr Burke raised a new objection to the current panel, which he claimed necessitated “the dropping of the disciplinary proceedings” against him, “a fulsome apology” by the board of the school and his “full reinstatement” as teacher of German and history.

Wilson’s Hospital School and the Department of Education have been contacted for comment.