The High Court has ruled Enoch Burke be released from Mountjoy prison.
He was jailed in September for failing to obey an injunction that ordered him to stay away from Wilson's Hospital School in County Westmeath.
The judge ordered his release, saying that it would be a ‘travesty to spend time in prison for something that is entirely misconceived’.
In his ruling the judge said that Enoch Burke’s imprisonment was a burden on the taxpayer at a cost of 84 thousand euro annually, on top of his teaching salary which he continues to be paid.
He said that his interpretation of Enoch Burke’s behaviour was that the schoolteacher saw some advantage of his continued imprisonment, adding that that he also felt Enoch Burke was acting under the influence of other parties.
The judge imposed a fine of 1 thousand 400 euro per day on Enoch Burke if he breaches the court order to stay away from Wilson's Hospital School in County Westmeath.
The case will come under review again on the 21st of January.
