Mother and sister of Enoch Burke arrested in Co Roscommon

By Grainne Ni Aodha, Press Association

Martina and Ammi Burke have been arrested in Co Roscommon on Tuesday afternoon.

The High Court ordered almost four weeks ago that the mother and sister of teacher Enoch Burke be jailed for two weeks after finding them in contempt of court.

The two were not at the hearing when Justice Brian Cregan delivered his judgment.

The contempt of court charge was in relation to a hearing on February 20th, during which both women were removed from court by eight to 10 gardaí.

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 gardaí 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.”