The father of Enoch Burke, a former Irish Christian teacher who is currently incarcerated after refusing to use pronouns to address a transgender student, was sentenced to two months in prison on Tuesday for allegedly assaulting a female police officer during a Court of Appeal hearing last year. Sean Burke, who is in his 60s, has denied the allegations and rejected the opportunity to have a suspended sentence, the Irish Independent reported.
On March 7, 2023, authorities said Burke allegedly assaulted Bridewell police officer Victoria Fisher in the Four Courts while his wife, Martina, was being escorted out of the hearing for reportedly shouting at the judges after their son lost the case. Fisher was grabbed, knocked down, and sustained bruising, court documents show.
Sean Burke unsuccessfully sought to overturn the guilty verdict rendered in May by the District Court. He told the court that knocking down Fisher was accidental. Nevertheless, Judge Ronan Munro convicted Burke on Tuesday after a three-day District Court of Appeals hearing. The judge cited evidence that Burke shouted at Fisher to leave his wife alone and intentionally applied force to Fisher, ruling that the incident was not accidental.
Judge Munro sentenced Burke to two months in prison; but, given his lack of prior convictions, the judge offered to suspend the term if Burke demonstrated good behavior for one year. Burke rejected the verdict and refused to sign the judge's peace bond. He was taken into custody.
His daughter, Ammi, 33, was also arrested during the same incident but was later cleared of obstruction charges.
The arrests occurred during a legal dispute between Enoch Burke and the CoA regarding transgenderism and his termination from Wilson's Hospital School in Westmeath. He has been incarcerated in Ireland for over 450 days for contempt of court, as a result of his refusal to comply with a court order and remain away from his former school. Enoch was suspended and placed on paid leave after refusing to address a transgender student as a "they," citing his Christian religion. He did not accept the suspension and continued to return to the school to teach, which ultimately resulted in his incarceration.
On March 7, 2023, authorities said Burke allegedly assaulted Bridewell police officer Victoria Fisher in the Four Courts while his wife, Martina, was being escorted out of the hearing for reportedly shouting at the judges after their son lost the case. Fisher was grabbed, knocked down, and sustained bruising, court documents show.
Sean Burke unsuccessfully sought to overturn the guilty verdict rendered in May by the District Court. He told the court that knocking down Fisher was accidental. Nevertheless, Judge Ronan Munro convicted Burke on Tuesday after a three-day District Court of Appeals hearing. The judge cited evidence that Burke shouted at Fisher to leave his wife alone and intentionally applied force to Fisher, ruling that the incident was not accidental.
Judge Munro sentenced Burke to two months in prison; but, given his lack of prior convictions, the judge offered to suspend the term if Burke demonstrated good behavior for one year. Burke rejected the verdict and refused to sign the judge's peace bond. He was taken into custody.
His daughter, Ammi, 33, was also arrested during the same incident but was later cleared of obstruction charges.
The arrests occurred during a legal dispute between Enoch Burke and the CoA regarding transgenderism and his termination from Wilson's Hospital School in Westmeath. He has been incarcerated in Ireland for over 450 days for contempt of court, as a result of his refusal to comply with a court order and remain away from his former school. Enoch was suspended and placed on paid leave after refusing to address a transgender student as a "they," citing his Christian religion. He did not accept the suspension and continued to return to the school to teach, which ultimately resulted in his incarceration.
