Enoch Burke confronts Archbishop

POLICE are investigating an alleged assault on the Archbishop of Armagh.

The investigation is in relation to an incident where a teacher suspended from the Church Of Ireland’s Wilson’s Hospital School confronted the Archbishop of Armagh, Most Revd John McDowell at the local cathedral.

The confrontation came in the Cathedral grounds just after the funeral of local Church of Ireland Minister Bill Atkins, Rector of Caledon, Killylea and Brantry Churches.

The matter is now under investigation by police.

Enoch Burke, has long campaigned for what he termed ‘Scriptural truth’ in relation to transgender issues.

He said the Archbishop was, “A traitor to the Church of Ireland ethos” during the confrontation on Thursday.

Mr Burke has had a long-running legal battle for defying court orders to stay away from the Church of Ireland’s Wilson’s Hospital School in Co. Westmeath which had dismissed him for gross misconduct.

Archbishop McDowell acts as Patron of Wilson’s Hospital School.

Mr Burke said, “In 2022, the School commanded all teachers at the school to refer to a student by a new name and the ‘they’ pronoun.”

He refused to do so and was suspended by the Board of Management.

Mr Burke asked the Primate why he had been silent while ‘he had languished in prison for over 700 days’. “I have languished in a prison cell for upholding the Church of Ireland ethos,” he said, “and for refusing to forsake Scriptural truth. What do you have to say about the Archbishop? You are silent, your lips are sealed,” Mr Burke said.

He noted that the Church of Ireland doctrine that the Archbishop is sworn to uphold is “man and woman, male and female.”

During the confrontation the Archbishop clearly objected to Mr Burke’s repeated attempts to grab him by the arm and said to Mr Burke, “You’re assaulting me.”

The Archbishop said he was “going about his lawful business” as he departed the cathedral grounds

He was accompanied by the Dean of the Cathedral, Rev Shane Forster, who said Mr Burke and his supporters were ‘trespassing on private grounds’ and said he would contact the police

Mr Burke said “Look at this man, his lips are silent; this is what he does, this is what he gets away with while this [transgenderism] is being promoted in every school, in Wilson’s Hospital School,”

He added, “You will not get away with that Archbishop McDowell.”

The encounter ended when the Archbishop the Dean entered the See House and closed the door in Mr Burke’s face.

Mr Burke said he has spent over 700 days in prison and counting, “The people of the Church of Ireland should not be deceived by this man who is sworn to maintain the Church of Ireland ethos and doctrine but is silent when the affirmation of transgenderism is forced upon the teachers and students of Church of Ireland schools.”

The PSNI confirmed it was investigating a report of an assault on a member of the clergy.

"Police enquiries are ongoing," a spokesperson added.

A statement from the Church of Ireland is expected shortly.