Burke Secures Judicial Review In Westmeath Dismissal Case

Mr Burke wants the decision quashed on the basis the panel lacked objectivity. 

Enoch Burke has secured judicial review proceedings against a decision not to reverse his dismissal from a school in Westmeath. 

The Journal.ie is reporting the now former Wilson's Hospital School teacher is bringing the action against the members of Disciplinary Appeal Panel tasked with assessing his dismissal from the school. 

The Education Minister and the board of management at the school have also been named in the judicial review application. 

Mr Burke wants the decision quashed on the basis the panel lacked objectivity. 

He believes its chair, Claire Callanan, should never have been on the panel owing to Wilson's Hospital School being a Church of Ireland school, and her husband holding positions within the Church. 

He also says as a "lay litigant" he should never have been cross examined by a solicitor and barrister at his internal appeal hearing. 

Mr Burke was suspended, and fired, after he confronted its principal after being asked to address a student by their chosen pronouns. 

He insists the request was in direct conflict with his religious beliefs. 

He has since spent over 700 days in prison in contempt of a court order for him to stay away from the school's Multyfarnham premises. 

The High Court granted Mr Burke permission to pursue the judicial review and the case will return to the court in October. 


 

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