Mr Burke was first imprisoned in September 2022 — since then he has been incarcerated for more than 550 days across four separate periods. Mr Burke's incarceration is as a result of repeatedly breaking a court order to stay away from his former place of work, Wilson’s Hospital school in Co Westmeath. Mr Burke's case highlights the lack of apparatus available to the courts when an individual repeatedly commits a crime or violates a court order. The court ordered he be returned to jail immediately for breaching a court order not to trespass at Wilson's Hospital school in Co Westmeath. I can make no assessment of what Mr Burke's individual needs may be, however, his case does highlight a more fundamental issue.

Source: Irish Examiner January 27, 2026 10:14 UTC