Sean Burke, the father of Enoch Burke, a former Irish teacher incarcerated for refusing to address a transgender student by their preferred pronouns, was sentenced to two months in prison for allegedly assaulting a female police officer during a Court of Appeal hearing. The incident occurred on March 7, 2023, after Burke’s son lost his case. Burke denied the assault charges, claiming that knocking the officer down was accidental. He also rejected an offer for a suspended sentence, which would have been granted if he exhibited good behavior for a year.
According to authorities, Burke assaulted Bridewell police officer Victoria Fisher at the Four Courts while his wife, Martina, was being escorted out of the hearing. Martina had reportedly shouted at the judges after their son’s case was dismissed. Fisher was allegedly grabbed and knocked down by Burke, causing her bruising. This confrontation was part of a series of incidents surrounding the Burkes’ legal battle over Enoch’s refusal to comply with school policies regarding transgender students.
Sean Burke Sentenced to Prison After Incident with Police Officer Following Son’s Court Loss
During the District Court’s appeals hearing, Burke argued that the incident with Officer Fisher was accidental. However, the judge ruled against him, finding sufficient evidence that Burke had intentionally applied force to Fisher. The court cited his aggressive behavior, including shouting at the officer to leave his wife alone, as indicative of an intentional assault. As a result, Judge Ronan Munro convicted Burke, sentencing him to two months in prison.
Despite the conviction, Burke’s lack of prior criminal history allowed the judge to offer him a suspended sentence. This would have meant no immediate prison time if Burke refrained from further offenses for one year. However, Burke rejected the offer and refused to sign a peace bond, which resulted in his immediate incarceration. Burke’s actions, including his refusal to accept the verdict, led to his being taken into custody after the hearing.
The incident occurred within the broader context of the Burke family’s ongoing legal struggles. Enoch Burke has been incarcerated for over 450 days for contempt of court, stemming from his refusal to comply with a court order and stay away from Wilson’s Hospital School. This situation arose after Enoch was suspended for refusing to use a transgender student’s preferred pronouns, citing his Christian beliefs. His actions and subsequent incarceration have drawn considerable attention in Ireland.
