Nobody in the Irish legal system knows quite how to deal with the "extremely unique situation” of Enoch Burke and his family, a former President of the Law Society of Ireland has said. 

Yesterday, Martina and Ammi Burke were arrested at Castlerea Prison, where they were understood to be visiting their son and brother, Enoch. 

Earlier last month, Mr Justice Brian Cregan ordered the pair be jailed for two weeks for repeated disruption of court proceedings related to their brother. 

Martina Burke. Picture by: Sasko Lazarov/© RollingNews.ie.

It is understood they are now being held at the Dóchas centre, the female wing of Mountjoy Prison. 

On Newstalk Breakfast, solicitor and former Law Society President Stuart Gilhooly noted Enoch Burke has now spent more than 600 days in prison for refusing to comply with court orders to stay away from Wilson’s Hospital School. 

His stubborn refusal to do as he is told by judges has no precedent in modern Irish legal history. 

“Bear in mind, some of the finest legal brains in this country have dealt with this problem,” Mr Gilhooly said. 

“He's appeared before any number of high court judges - some of whom are extremely bright people - and they have racked their brains as to how to deal with this person and what measures they can use. 

“I can assure you that the last thing they want is a man like Burke in prison. The prisons are not there for people like him.” 

 Enoch Burke's mother Martina and sister Ammi arrive at court Picture by: Sasko Lazarov / © RollingNews.ie.

Mr Gilhooly continued that he expects that judges have discussed how to deal with Mr Burke. 

Evidently, none have come up with a solution satisfactory to all parties. 

“I think in general terms, they can sit down and say, ‘Well, look, what can we do about this? Surely there must be a better way?’” he said. 

“And I do genuinely believe that if there was a better way, they would have done it.” 

Although they typically decline to talk to the media, the Burkes are social media enthusiasts, often livestreaming their protests and fury at their legal woes. 

However, Mr Gilhooly cautioned against people assuming their actions are motivated by likes and views. 

“I also think it's a little naive in this instance to think that this is all about social media, it's all about eyeballs,” he said. 

“I genuinely believe that Burke and the Burke family in general are absolutely zealous in this regard. I think they really, really believe in their cause.”

Main image: Martina Burke and her daughter Ammi Burke. Picture by: Leah Farrell/RollingNews.ie.