Overview
- Enoch Burke asked the Court of Appeal on Wednesday to extend the deadline so he can appeal a 2023 High Court judgment that found his 2022 suspension lawful, and the judges reserved their decision without setting a timeline.
- Burke, who has often represented himself, said he delayed because he was handling other cases, spent long periods in prison for contempt, and lost confidence in the Court of Appeal after an earlier ruling.
- The school’s lawyer, Rosemary Mallon, urged the court to refuse extra time, saying his reasons were not valid and arguing the case needs finality.
- In a separate move later Wednesday, Burke sought a High Court injunction to pause a Disciplinary Appeals Panel reviewing his dismissal, and Justice David Nolan set a hearing for Thursday morning and told the panel to attend.
- The dispute began after the school asked staff to use a student’s new name and the pronoun they, and under Irish rules an appeal normally must be lodged within 28 days, which is why Burke needs an extension now.