A teacher from Ireland who was at the center of a controversy regarding transgender pronouns was sentenced to jail for the third time on Monday. This was because he disobeyed a court order that required him to remain away from the school that fired him.
The High Court in Dublin issued an order for the committal of Enoch Burke for contempt after he continued to appear at Wilson’s Hospital School in County Westmeath, despite being prohibited from entering the premises by an injunction. The Irish Times reported that Burke’s actions violated the injunction.
Burke adheres to the evangelical Christian faith. Because he refused to use the preferred pronouns of a transgender student, he was ultimately suspended from school in August of 2022. In spite of the fact that he was ultimately fired, he has filed an appeal against the dismissal, and according to reports in the media, he is still being paid by the school until the outcome is determined.
According to the newspaper, Justice Michael Quinn issued a ruling on September 2 stating that Burke was in “ongoing contempt” of previous court orders and that he must continue to be incarcerated in Mountjoy Prison until he becomes willing to comply with the court’s orders.
During the proceedings that took place on Monday, Burke raised the accusation that the court violated his religious rights. In an argument that his Christian beliefs about gender were being punished, he told Justice Quinn, “This is a mockery of justice,” as reported by Sky News. He was arguing that his beliefs were being punished.
Over the course of two previous incarcerations for similar contempt rulings, the educator has already served more than four hundred days in prison sentences.
RTÉ, a public broadcaster, reported that Burke was released for the last time in late June, when the school was closed for the summer break.
During that time period, Burke revealed the personal toll that his legal battle had taken on him by releasing a video statement in which he said, “I’ve been here for 400 days consecutively and two years of my life have been taken away from me.”
“Of course, Mountjoy Prison is a depressing place. It would be my opinion that there are a great number of people who are very sincere and who have been let down by the state, by the government, and in some instances by the courts.
The boarding school known as Wilson’s Hospital School is located approximately 55 miles (88 kilometers) west of Dublin. The school has stated that it is proud of its Church of Ireland heritage and that it is committed to “fostering Christian practice and teaching.”
Burke’s arrest was requested by the board of directors of the co-educational school after he resumed attending classes on the campus on the 22nd of August, when the new term began.
With reference to the ongoing appeal, Burke maintains that his termination was not justified. According to the Irish Independent, the administration of the school believes that his presence causes disruptions for both the staff and the students.
