Police are looking into an alleged assault involving Enoch Burke and the leader of the Church of Ireland. 

A video shared on X appears to show the former teacher grabbing the arm of Archbishop John McDowell after a funeral in Armagh, Northern Ireland, on Thursday. 

Burke, an evangelical Christian, has been involved in a long-running legal battle, having been dismissed by a school in the Republic of Ireland for refusing to abide by a decision to address a transgender pupil as “they”. He has repeatedly defied court orders to stay away from the school, which led to his imprisonment. 

In the video, Burke confronts the Primate of All Ireland in the grounds of St Patrick’s Cathedral and holds his arm. Archbishop John attempts to walk away, saying, “please, you are assaulting me”. Burke denies assaulting him. 

Burke continues to follow. Holding the Archbishop’s arm, he says: “I have languished in a prison cell for upholding the Church of Ireland ethos and for refusing to forsake scriptural truth. What do you have to say about that, Archbishop?”

The former teacher follows the Archbishop towards his residence, attempting to block his path. Outside the door, Burke alleges Archbishop John is a “traitor and a deceiver”.

Burke states: “He is a traitor to Church of Ireland doctrine, to that Christian belief, man and woman. It is not ambiguous, thank God. He made them male and female, but this man is running away. He won’t get away with that. I say today: God will judge him. This cannot be allowed.”

A spokesman for the Church of Ireland said the incident was “particularly hostile and aggressive”, that “no respect was shown” for the funeral that had been taking place or for “the sanctity of the cathedral grounds”, and that entry onto the private residence “is a further concern”.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland is “investigating a report of an assault on a member of the clergy”, a spokesman confirmed.