Irish educator disciplined for misuse of trans student's pronouns, reports say
A Christian educator was terminated from their position and endured more than 500 days in prison for declining to use ‘they’ to address a transgender student. Read Full Article at RT.com
TroibNews 
Enoch Burke, an Irish schoolteacher, was dismissed and has spent over 500 days in prison for refusing to address a transgender student as ‘they,’ citing his Christian beliefs. Reports from The Irish Times indicate that Burke could be stripped of his salary as authorities consider taking action against him.
Burke, who previously taught history and German at Wilson’s Hospital School in County Westmeath, has been embroiled in a lengthy legal and ethical battle since 2022. He was suspended after resisting the school principal's directive to use a new name and the pronoun "they" for a transitioning student.
On Friday, the High Court of Ireland is set to discuss appointing a receiver to recover Burke's unpaid fines from his salary. If this is approved, it would allow authorities to collect €79,100, which Burke has accumulated through daily fines of €700 for violating court orders by attending Wilson's Hospital School.
The teacher, who has a background in evangelical Christianity, repeatedly ignored a court order preventing him from entering the school premises.
“I teach everyone who’s in front of me. I teach every single student,” Burke stated to SkyNews last year. “But when I am commanded, when I’m told that I can’t have my religious belief anymore, when I’m told I have to confess belief in transgenderism, instead of my simple belief, which is male and female, that’s just a breach simply of my rights."
Despite his suspension with full pay in May 2022 while an investigation into alleged misconduct was underway, Burke continued to attend school. His defiance led to his imprisonment for contempt of court in September 2022, totaling 512 days in jail over three separate periods for breaching court orders.
Although he has been dismissed from the school, Burke still receives his salary during administrative leave while his appeal regarding his termination is pending.
Recently, Justice David Nolan increased Burke's daily fine to €1,400 after it was discovered that he had entered the school via a student entrance and tried to join a school assembly. Nolan indicated that Burke’s outstanding fines might amount to around €190,000 due to the €700 daily fines imposed in January 2023.
Burke claims that the courts are not recognizing his constitutional right to religious freedom, arguing that his rights were violated when he was required to use they/them pronouns for a student.
According to its website, “Wilson’s Hospital School is, to this day, a place where true love of knowledge makes all study a discovery and joy. Our school maintains a distinctive Church of Ireland ethos, fostering Christian practice and teaching, promoting dignity and respect for the individual and committed to the provision of a caring family atmosphere in which education can flourish.”
Ian Smith contributed to this report for TROIB News
Burke, who previously taught history and German at Wilson’s Hospital School in County Westmeath, has been embroiled in a lengthy legal and ethical battle since 2022. He was suspended after resisting the school principal's directive to use a new name and the pronoun "they" for a transitioning student.
On Friday, the High Court of Ireland is set to discuss appointing a receiver to recover Burke's unpaid fines from his salary. If this is approved, it would allow authorities to collect €79,100, which Burke has accumulated through daily fines of €700 for violating court orders by attending Wilson's Hospital School.
The teacher, who has a background in evangelical Christianity, repeatedly ignored a court order preventing him from entering the school premises.
“I teach everyone who’s in front of me. I teach every single student,” Burke stated to SkyNews last year. “But when I am commanded, when I’m told that I can’t have my religious belief anymore, when I’m told I have to confess belief in transgenderism, instead of my simple belief, which is male and female, that’s just a breach simply of my rights."
Despite his suspension with full pay in May 2022 while an investigation into alleged misconduct was underway, Burke continued to attend school. His defiance led to his imprisonment for contempt of court in September 2022, totaling 512 days in jail over three separate periods for breaching court orders.
Although he has been dismissed from the school, Burke still receives his salary during administrative leave while his appeal regarding his termination is pending.
Recently, Justice David Nolan increased Burke's daily fine to €1,400 after it was discovered that he had entered the school via a student entrance and tried to join a school assembly. Nolan indicated that Burke’s outstanding fines might amount to around €190,000 due to the €700 daily fines imposed in January 2023.
Burke claims that the courts are not recognizing his constitutional right to religious freedom, arguing that his rights were violated when he was required to use they/them pronouns for a student.
According to its website, “Wilson’s Hospital School is, to this day, a place where true love of knowledge makes all study a discovery and joy. Our school maintains a distinctive Church of Ireland ethos, fostering Christian practice and teaching, promoting dignity and respect for the individual and committed to the provision of a caring family atmosphere in which education can flourish.”
Ian Smith contributed to this report for TROIB News
