Teacher Spends Over a Year in Prison For Refusing to Use Transgender Pronouns

(WatchDogReport.org) – An Irish Christian teacher has been released from prison after serving over 400 days for refusing to address a transitioning male student using female pronouns and a female name. Enoch Burke, who taught German language and history at the Wilson’s Hospital School in Multyfarnham, County Westmeath, faced disciplinary action over his noncompliance regarding pronouns and an adopted name the student insisted he use.

Following the incident in May 2022, the Church of Ireland-run school initially put Burke on paid administrative leave in August 2022. Burke ignored the decision, however, and continued to come to the school despite orders to stay away. The teacher was then arrested on contempt of court charges in September 2022.

In March 2024, a teacher in Wiltshire, UK, was fired for “gross misconduct” after he refused to use a student’s chosen pronouns. In May, an elementary school teacher in Nottinghamshire, UK, was fired for refusing an 8-year-old girl’s preferred name and pronouns. Nottinghamshire County Council supported the girl’s transition two years earlier and insisted that all members of staff address the child by her preferred pronouns and male name. According to the Christian teacher, the girl was allowed to use male bathrooms and changing rooms during her transition period.

Burke was unsuccessful in obtaining a court injunction that would have allowed for his release and return to teaching at the school. The evangelical Christian stated that he was a “prisoner of conscience” and received widespread support from conservative commentators across the world since he was jailed.

The school dismissed the teacher in January 2023. Still, Burke continued to appear at the school, resulting in daily fines of €700, equivalent to $756, before he was jailed again in September 2023 at Mountjoy Prison, Dublin. Justice Mark Sanfey, who ordered the teacher’s release on June 28, 2024, warned that if the conditions of the teacher’s release – which include a ban on returning to the school – are violated, he risks being sent back to jail.