The Police Service of Northern Ireland is investigating a report of an assault on a member of the clergy following an incident at St Patrick’s Church of Ireland Cathedral in Armagh on Thursday.

Enoch Burke, a former teacher who has been jailed for contempt of court in the Republic of Ireland, confronted Archbishop John McDowell after a funeral service for a rector of the diocese. Video circulated on social media shows Burke approaching the Archbishop and attempting to grab his arm while asking why he had been silent during Burke’s imprisonment.

The Archbishop can be heard saying “you are assaulting me” and “you are preventing me from going about my lawful business.” He also stated he would report Burke to police if the behaviour continued. A Church of Ireland spokesman said Burke and members of his family followed the Archbishop from the cathedral grounds to See House, his private residence.

A PSNI spokesperson confirmed: “Police are investigating a report of an assault on a member of the clergy at St Patrick’s Church of Ireland Cathedral in Armagh on Thursday 29th October. Police enquiries are ongoing.”

The Church of Ireland issued a statement saying it was a matter of deep concern that the Burke family had confronted the Archbishop in a “particularly hostile and aggressive manner” following a funeral, and that no respect was shown for the occasion or the cathedral grounds. Entry onto See House property, a private residence, was described as a further concern.

Burke has been involved in a lengthy legal dispute with Wilson’s Hospital School in County Westmeath after he refused to comply with a directive to address a transgender pupil by a new name and the pronoun “they”. He was dismissed from his post and has been jailed on multiple occasions for breaching court orders to stay away from the school.

During the confrontation, Burke accused the Archbishop of being a traitor and a deceiver and claimed that his silence was the reason for Burke’s imprisonment. Another cleric present told Burke he was trespassing on private grounds and that police would be called.

The Church of Ireland said the Archbishop and other members of the Church would assist with PSNI enquiries and that no further comment would be made until the investigation is complete.