One Charged After Enoch Burke Loses Appeal Against Wilson’s Hospital School Amid Chaotic Courtroom Scenes [Ireland]

The Irish Times ^ | 03/07/23 | Mary Carolan, Jack Power

[marshmallow]

Burke accused gardaí of being ‘thugs’ as members of force attempted to remove family members after they refused to leave voluntarily

Amid unprecedented and chaotic scenes at the Court of Appeal (COA) on Tuesday, Enoch Burke lost an appeal aimed at overturning court orders preventing him from teaching or attending a Co Westmeath school.

One person was arrested, and later charged, after members of the Burke family were removed from court.

The three-judge court, in three separate judgments, dismissed the appeal. The delivery of the judgments was interrupted twice, with the court ultimately rising and delivering the judgments electronically.

Mr Burke, accompanied by his parents Martina and Seán, sister Ammi and brothers Isaac and Simeon, were in the packed court for the delivery of judgments of the COA president, Mr Justice George Birmingham, Mr Justice John Edwards and Ms Justice Máire Whelan.

The delivery of the judgments was interrupted for a time after Ammi Burke, her mother and other members of the family stood and shouted at the judges when Mr Justice Birmingham agreed with a finding by one of the High Court judges under appeal that the case was not about transgenderism.

The judges left the bench for a short period and when they returned, Mr Justice Birmingham said if there were further interruptions, the court would rise.

Within about two minutes, there were further interruptions and shouting and the judges again left. Ammi Burke was dragged from the court by gardaí and there were angry exchanges between the Burkes and gardaí as they sought to escort the remaining family members from the court.

Enoch Burke accused gardaí of being “thugs” and there were shouts to “leave my father alone” and “get your hands off him” as several gardaí attempted to remove the members of the family after they refused.......