Enoch Burke has been banned from going within 100 metres of his former school after a judge amended an order against him.

The High Court in Dublin also heard that Mr Burke now owes €238,268.18 in fines after defying a court order to refrain from trespassing at the school in Co. Westmeath where he used to work.

The court was told he has trespassed at the school some 15 times since the start of the school year, for which he faces a € 2,000-per-day fine. Mr Burke has also been ordered to provide a statement of affairs to the court within 21 days, setting out his income, expenses and assets.

The court was told a similar order was previously made against him, with which he never complied. A recent order to arrest and jail Mr Burke was made following several breaches of the court order preventing him from trespassing at the school.

The former history and German teacher was dismissed from Wilson’s Hospital School in May after a lengthy dispute with the institution. The row stemmed from incidents over a request in 2022 from the school’s then-principal to address a student by a new name and pronoun.

Mr Burke and his family, evangelical Christians from Co. Mayo, argued the direction was unconstitutional and went against his right to express his religious beliefs.

Wilson’s Hospital was granted an order restraining him from attending the school while he was suspended and dismissed, but he continued to attend in breach of the order, arguing that it was still his place of work. He has been imprisoned for more than 700 days for breaching court orders not to trespass at the school.

Mr Burke did not appear at yesterday’s High Court proceedings. Senior counsel Rosemary Mallon told the court she believes he was aware the matter was listed after he emailed the solicitor representing the school’s board of management office on Wednesday.

The court addressed an order for the seizure of the car used by Mr Burke to travel to and from the school. The order for sequestration was stayed until yesterday’s hearing to allow Mr Burke to make submissions.

Ms Mallon said that in the email, Mr Burke said he did not own the vehicle. Judge Brian Cregan said that since the order for his arrest and committal, gardaí have made two attempts to arrest him but have not been able to locate Mr Burke.

Judge Cregan modified the order so Mr Burke can be arrested if he trespasses within 100 metres of the school. Ms Mallon said she had no issue with the amendment as the ‘only desire’ is to ensure he does not trespass.

Judge Cregan said gardaí should not be wasting limited resources trying to find Mr Burke. The amended order will be served on Mr Burke. The judge said he will also consider making a garnishee order, which redirects Mr Burke’s income to pay his outstanding court fines.

He said that would apply if Mr Burke receives any future income from the Department of Education. He said he would not make the order yesterday and would give Mr Burke 21 days to respond.

The court was told that if he fails to make a submission, the order will be made in his absence. The judge adjourned the matter for one week with costs reserved.