The continued incarceration of a secondary school teacher for contempt of court after a row over transgender policy in his school has been described as “heavy handed” by the leader of Fianna Fail in the Seanad.

Lisa Chambers (pictured) addressed the situation of Enoch Burke yesterday after Senator Ronan Mullen raised the possibility that he may remain imprisoned until Christmas.

Senator Chambers agreed with his concerns and expressed her surprise that Mr Burke ,“ended up in Mountjoy Prison, which is usually home to some more serious offenders”.

“I think the matter should be expedited. Having spoken to the governor of Mountjoy previously on a visit, he would be of the view that there are many people in that prison who should not be there and would be better served with other solutions, and I believe Enoch Burke is one of those people”.

She added, “The charge against him in terms of contempt of court was correct and he does need to come forward on that front, but I do take the Senator’s point that it seems a very heavy-handed outcome in terms of the actual offence”.

Meanwhile, Mr Burke himself returned to the High Court on Tuesday asking that an injunction against him be lifted. He did not appeal the Court’s orders committing him to prison for contempt, nor did he purge his contempt.

He has been behind bars at Mountjoy Prison since early September.