Mother and sister of Enoch Burke arrested after visiting him in prison

The mother and sister of teacher Enoch Burke were arrested at a prison Co Roscommon on Tuesday after visiting him.

The High Court had ordered almost four weeks ago that Martina and Ammi Burke be jailed for two weeks after finding them in contempt of court.

Mr Burke has also been jailed for contempt; he was moved from Mountjoy Prison in Dublin to Castlerea Prison in Co Roscommon in March.

A post on the Josiah Burke Facebook page said that the two women were arrested at Castlerea Prison after visiting Mr Burke on Tuesday afternoon.

It included a video of where Ammi Burke said they had been visiting Mr Burke.

The contempt of court charge was in relation to a hearing in February during which both women were removed from court by eight to 10 gardai.

Mr Cregan said the hearing “descended into chaos” when they interrupted proceedings and “persisted in standing up in court and shouting”.

Defending her actions, Martina Burke told the court her son Enoch had been “denied his constitutional rights”, while Ammi Burke said she “won’t sit silently by while my brother’s constitutional rights are being denied”.

The judge said “it is clear” the Burke family “believe that they are above the law”.

In a statement, the Gardai said: “An Garda Siochana executed a High Court order against two females in Castlerea, Co Roscommon this afternoon, Tuesday March 31 2026.

“They will be brought to Mountjoy Women’s Prison on foot of the Order of Committal.

“An Garda Siochana has no further comment.”