Panel to oppose Enoch Burke's bid to halt appeal

A panel convened to hear a teacher's appeal against dismissal has indicated it will contest an attempt to halt proceedings, the High Court learned on Tuesday. Enoch Burke, a German and History teacher at Wilson's Hospital secondary school in County Westmeath, sought an injunction to prevent the Teacher's Disciplinary Appeal Panel from considering his case. Mr Burke was dismissed by the school's board of management following allegations of gross misconduct, which he denies. A temporary injunction was granted last week after the court found he had raised fair issues for trial. Counsel for the panel told Mr Justice Brian O'Moore it intends to oppose the extension of the injunction, though indicated one discrete issue concerning a video recording might be resolved between the parties. A second ground for Mr Burke's application concerns alleged bias by a panel member. The judge scheduled a hearing for late July and replaced the interim injunction with undertakings.