Archbishop of Armagh John McDowell was branded a “traitor” and a “deceiver” on his own doorstep after being confronted by teacher Enoch Burke after spending 700 days in jail.
The drama unfolded in Armagh on Thursday, after the Archbishop arrived by car within the grounds of St Patrick’s Church of Ireland Cathedral.
Mr Burke has been jailed on four separate occasions, dating back four years, after he was suspended from his position at Wilson’s Hospital School in County Westmeath.
He refused to accept a directive by the Church of Ireland-run school to call a pupil who was transitioning by their new name and address them by their chosen pronoun of ‘they’.
Mr Burke claimed this was contrary to his religious beliefs and continued to attend the school despite being placed on administrative suspension.
The school sought a High Court injunction and was successful, with Mr Burke jailed for the first time in September 2022 after he breached the ruling and was considered as being in contempt of court.
The teacher has been jailed on three further occasions as the saga has continued to play out before the courts with Mr Burke refusing to back down.
On Thursday, he took his protests to the head of the Church of Ireland in Armagh, following the Primate from within the grounds of the Cathedral to the door of See House on the opposite side of the road.
Mr Burke fired questions at Archbishop McDowell, who looked visibly uncomfortable and distressed and tried to shield himself from a supporter who was filming what transpired, holding his hand up on several occasions in a bid to block the phone being used to record.
Mr Burke is seen attempting to grasp the arm of the Archbishop, whose path is blocked a number of times, and informs the teacher that he is going about his lawful business.
Archbishop McDowell also informs the teacher that he will report him to the police if he keeps assaulting him.
Mr Burke repeatedly challenges the Primate, despite being accused by the Archbishop multiple times of assault as he attempts to walk to his house, telling him, “You are deceiving the Church of Ireland people. You are a traitor and a deceiver.”
“I have languished in a prison cell for 700 days and you have been silent,” the teacher challenged. “Why are you silent?”
As they enter the grounds of See House, Dean of Armagh, Very Rev Shane Forster warns Mr Burke and those filming that they are trespassing on private grounds and the police will be called.
As the Archbishop and Dean make their way inside See House, closing the door, Mr Burke utters the word “disgraceful” before turning to address the camera directly from the doorstep.
“Behind these doors, an Archbishop, the Primate of All Ireland, the one who appoints the Board of Management, and he is running away,” Mr Burke states. “He will not give an answer. He is a traitor to Church of Ireland doctrine, to that Christian belief, man and woman. It is not ambiguous, thank God. He made them male and female but this man is running away. He won’t get away with that. I say your God will judge him. This cannot be allowed.”
Accusing the Archbishop of misleading the people of the Church of Ireland, he adds: “He is leading them to a prison cell. That’s where I was. That’s where this man put me. He’s the reason that I was in a prison cell.
“And you look at his lips, they’re sealed and not a word seeping from them. And why? Because one word from that man, Archbishop John McDowell, the Primate of All Ireland, the patron of Wilson’s Hospital School, would have been enough to stop me being carried away by corrupt courts and incarcerated.
“Seven hundred days where I didn’t see the light of day and this man is the source of it. I say to people don’t be deceived. He won’t get away with this today. This cannot be allowed to continue. This man occupies his position when he’s a traitor to his office.”
Police have confirmed they were contacted after the incident in Armagh.
A spokesperson told Armagh I: “Police are investigating a report of an assault on a member of the clergy at St Patrick’s Church of Ireland Cathedral in Armagh on Thursday 29th October. Police enquiries are ongoing.”
