Judge Warns Enoch Burke as Mother, Sister Jailed for Contempt

DUBLIN (Azat TV) – High Court Judge Brian Cregan issued a stern warning to Enoch Burke, telling him “don’t threaten me,” after finding Burke’s sister, Ammi Burke, and mother, Martina Burke, in contempt of court on Wednesday, March 4, 2026. The judge sentenced both women to two weeks in prison, marking a significant escalation in the protracted legal battle centered around the evangelical Christian teacher and his family’s persistent defiance of judicial authority.

The dramatic exchanges unfolded during a High Court hearing where Enoch Burke, appearing via video link from Castlerea Prison, voiced his anger at Judge Cregan’s decision to commit his mother and sister to prison. Martina and Ammi Burke were found in contempt for interrupting a previous hearing involving the Disciplinary Appeals Panel (DAP), a recurring pattern that Judge Cregan characterized as ‘completely abnormal’ and unprecedented.

High Court Confrontation Over Contempt

The core of Wednesday’s confrontation stemmed from Judge Cregan’s ruling that both Martina and Ammi Burke had deliberately obstructed court proceedings. Ammi Burke, a qualified solicitor, received particular criticism from the judge, who described her behavior as ‘disgraceful and indefensible,’ especially given her legal training. Judge Cregan indicated he would refer his judgments to the Law Society’s relevant disciplinary committee for potential investigation into Ammi Burke’s conduct.

During the hearing, Enoch Burke launched into a series of heated criticisms of the court and Judge Cregan. He labeled the judgment against his family as “fearful and nefarious” and took particular issue with its reference to the family’s evangelical Christian faith. At one point, Burke directly told Judge Cregan, “You will give an account to God,” prompting the judge’s repeated admonition: “don’t threaten me.” Judge Cregan eventually muted Burke’s microphone, stating, “you’re just wasting my time,” after Burke continued to assert that his mother and sister were “guilty of nothing but speaking the truth.”

Judicial Rebuke for Family’s Defiance

Judge Cregan’s judgment extended beyond the immediate contempt findings, delivering a broader critique of the Burke family’s stance towards the legal system. The court strongly criticized Enoch Burke for accusing “everyone of lying,” including other judges, solicitors, and barristers, stating that Burke “himself is entirely mendacious about the reasons why he is in prison.” The judge further declared, “I am of the view that Mr Burke is not a credible witness. I would never take Mr Burke’s characterisation of an opponent’s version of events as even remotely resembling the truth of the situation.”

The judgment also addressed the family’s belief that their evangelical Christian faith should exempt them from legal obligations, asserting, “There is no exemption for Christian evangelicals, or climate change activists, or animal right activists, or anti-abortion protesters. The law applies equally to all persons who seek to deliberately interrupt court proceedings and seek to disrupt them.” Counsel for the DAP, Páraic Lyons, also made submissions regarding costs sought from Burke, which Burke contested, maintaining the court was wrong to dismiss his case.

Burke’s Prison Transfer Dispute and Accusations

Adding another layer to the contentious proceedings, Enoch Burke sought to challenge his recent transfer from Mountjoy Prison, where he has spent over 600 days, to Castlerea Prison. He claimed the move occurred without notice on Sunday morning and objected to it on the grounds that he was originally ordered to Mountjoy by Judge Cregan in December. When asked by the judge to make a formal submission about his whereabouts, Burke retorted, “you know where I am, judge,” and accused Judge Cregan of playing “games” and not being “a good man,” suggesting his transfer was achieved “by sleight of hand.”

Burke also reiterated his lack of trust in the judge, stating he had “no confidence that you’re a man of truth or integrity,” and accused the court of ‘winking at wrongdoing.’ He further claimed the court was guilty of a “false balance that is an abomination to God, the god that you have mocked this morning.” Judge Cregan firmly denied mocking God, emphasizing the court’s impartiality.

The High Court’s decisive action, including the imprisonment of family members and the judge’s direct warnings, underscores the judiciary’s resolve to uphold the rule of law in the face of persistent and religiously framed defiance. This latest development signals a deepening entrenchment of positions between the Burke family and the Irish legal system, highlighting the challenges courts face in maintaining order and authority when confronted with individuals who fundamentally reject their legitimacy.