Archbishop of Armagh accuses former teacher of assault in cathedral grounds
Police are investigating a physical confrontation involving Enoch Burke and John McDowell, which occurred amid ongoing legal disputes over a local school.
By Anthony Lawson ·
The Police Service of Northern Ireland is investigating an alleged assault on John McDowell, the Church of Ireland Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland. The confrontation took place in the grounds of St Patrick’s Cathedral in Armagh town. A video shared by the family of Enoch Burke, a former teacher, shows the two men in close physical contact.
In the footage, Burke appears to grasp the archbishop by the sleeves and block his path to the parochial house. McDowell repeatedly states, “You are assaulting me,” while telling Burke that he will call the police if the physical contact continues. Burke is pictured alongside his father, Seán, during the exchange.
Burke, who identifies as an evangelical Christian, has been involved in a prolonged legal dispute with Wilson’s Hospital School. The school operates under the patronage of the Church of Ireland. Burke was formally dismissed in May for gross misconduct following an incident in June 2022. At that time, the then-principal, Niamh McShane, directed staff to use a student’s new name and the pronouns “they” and “them.” Burke argued that this change conflicted with his religious beliefs.
After his suspension, Burke continued to enter the school grounds, prompting the institution to seek court orders restricting his access. Judge Alexander Owens issued a ban more than three years ago. Burke has accumulated over 700 days in prison in the Republic of Ireland for breaching this order. He was most recently released from custody in July.
Earlier this month, High Court judge Brian Cregan ordered the seizure of a vehicle used to transport Burke to the school gates. The court also mandated his immediate arrest and return to Mountjoy Prison if he appeared outside the facility again. Burke has not returned to the school since that ruling.
The Church of Ireland confirmed in a statement that police were contacted following the incident involving the archbishop. A PSNI spokesperson said inquiries are ongoing into the report of an assault on a member of the clergy. Burke remains in the community while continuing his efforts to seek reinstatement through the courts.
The archbishop stated on video that Burke had “languished in a prison cell” for upholding the church’s ethos. Burke responded by asking the archbishop what he had to say about Burke’s time in custody. The confrontation ended when the door to the parochial house shut behind McDowell, though Burke continued to shout from outside.
