Enoch Burke has become a symbol in the fight against transgender ideology, particularly in the previously Catholic Ireland, according to his supporters.
On September 2, the Irish police once again arrested Enoch Burke after he showed up at his former workplace, Wilson’s Hospital secondary school, despite a court order prohibiting him from entering the premises. The teacher was escorted by three police officers to a police van.
Burke’s case began in the summer of 2022 when the German, history, and politics teacher refused to address a biologically male student – who was in the process of “gender transition” – as a girl and was unwilling to use the gender-neutral pronoun “they.”
LifeSite writer Jonathon Van Maren argues that Burke’s case highlights the dominance of transgender ideology in Irish society.
After Burke refused to comply with the school principal’s instructions regarding pronoun usage, he was placed on paid leave on August 22, 2022, while the school council initiated disciplinary proceedings against him. However, Burke continued to show up at the school, and on August 30, he received a temporary court order prohibiting him from entering the institution. Ignoring this order, Burke was arrested on September 5 at the school, where he was found in an empty classroom. He was sentenced to indefinite imprisonment for contempt of court, until he is willing to apologize or until the court decides otherwise.
During his 2022 sentencing, Burke stated:
“The transgenderism is inconsistent with my Christian faith. It is contrary to Scripture, the ethos of the Irish Church, and the values of my school. I love my school, whose motto is ‘Res Non Verba’, that is deeds, not words, but today I am here because I said I would not call a boy a girl.”
Burke was released on bail before Christmas 2022, as the judge believed that Burke was using his imprisonment for his own purposes. During his release, Burke was warned that he would be fined €700 per day if he continued to disobey the court order and return to the school.
In January 2023, the school dismissed Burke, but he continued to show up at the school, leading to his return to prison in September. While technically Burke’s arrest and imprisonment occurred due to the violation of a court order, his case draws attention to the growing influence of transgender ideology.
Burke’s supporters believe that by standing up for the teacher’s principles, he has become a symbol in the fight against transgender ideology, especially in the formerly Catholic Ireland. However, the courts argue that Burke remains in prison due to his “stubbornness,” and he would be released if he is willing to accept the school’s dismissal and refrain from returning to his workplace.
