Transgender-Rejecting Irish Teacher Jailed for Returning to School Despite Court Order

The Christian teacher’s refusal to refer to a trans student as ’they‘ led to his dismissal. Yet he returned to the school, saying, ’I have a right to be here.’

Irish schoolteacher Enoch Burke (L) leaves the High Court in Dublin to return to Mountjoy Prison on Sept. 14, 2022. Brian Lawless/PA Wire/PA Images

An Irish High Court judge on Monday ordered teacher Enoch Burke returned to Mountjoy Prison for contempt after he repeatedly appeared at Wilson’s Hospital School gates, violating court orders barring him from the premises.

Since 2022, history and German language teacher Burke has battled the school over requirements he use “they” to refer to a transgender student. A fundamentalist Christian, Burke says such a demand violates his religious conscience.