Police investigate reported assault after Enoch Burke confronts Archbishop McDowell

The confrontation in Armagh

Former teacher Enoch Burke confronted John McDowell, the Church of Ireland Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland, at St Patrick's Cathedral in Armagh on Thursday, 29 October. Footage posted on social media shows Burke grabbing the archbishop's arm during the exchange, and the Church said the episode unfolded in the cathedral grounds. Burke shared the video on his X account, and his brother Josiah shared it on a YouTube account. The Church said Burke and members of his family approached the archbishop after a funeral service for a colleague that he had been attending. In the footage Burke asks why McDowell stayed silent while Burke spent 700 days in prison, and McDowell tells him he is being assaulted and says he will report Burke to the police. Reports say the encounter continued to the door of the archbishop's residence, where the archbishop and the cathedral's dean went into the See House.

Police inquiry and church response

Police in Northern Ireland have opened an inquiry into a complaint that a member of the clergy was assaulted. A PSNI spokesperson confirmed the investigation and said enquiries are continuing. The statement did not name the person said to have been assaulted and did not identify a suspect. The Church said the archbishop, other clergy present and church authorities would help police with their inquiries. In its statement, the Church said it was deeply troubled by the family's conduct.

“It is a matter of deep concern and sadness that the Burke family considered this was an appropriate occasion to confront the Archbishop.”

Court orders behind the dispute

Burke has been jailed across five separate periods for contempt of court, serving more than 700 days in total, and was most recently released on 1 July after the school year ended. The dispute goes back to a 2022 request by the then principal of Wilson's Hospital School in Co Westmeath, asking staff to address a student by a new name and pronoun. Burke, an evangelical Christian from Co Mayo, argues that the instruction was unconstitutional and breached his right to express his religious beliefs. Judges have repeatedly said his imprisonment concerns his refusal to obey orders to stay away from the school. A permanent injunction barring him from the school grounds without the board's consent remains in place.

High Court order on the same day

On the same day as the confrontation, Judge Brian Cregan imposed a further €30,000 in fines over Burke's breaches of an injunction against trespassing at the school. Outstanding fines now stand at €238,268.18, the court heard. The judge ordered Burke to provide a statement of his means within three weeks while he weighs further steps to recover the fines. He also changed an arrest and imprisonment order so that it applies only if Burke appears at or within 100 metres of the school. The court heard Burke had not attended the school since that arrest order was made in October.

What remains open

No suspect has been named, and the police statement did not say who is alleged to have been assaulted. The Burke family and the Diocese of Armagh were both contacted for comment. The Church has said it will make no further statement until the police investigation is complete. The statement of means is due within three weeks of the hearing on 29 October.