Irish Teacher Enoch Burke Jailed Again for “Contempt of Court” in Pronoun Clash

Enoch Burke, a vocal educator in Ireland, faces another stint behind bars after a judge ruled him in contempt for defying orders tied to a long-running school dispute.

The case stems from Burke’s refusal to affirm a student’s gender identity, a standoff that has kept him out of the classroom and in courtrooms for years.

Burke first drew headlines in 2022 when his school suspended him for declining to use a transgender student’s preferred pronouns, a decision he linked directly to his religious convictions as a Protestant Christian.

That initial clash escalated quickly, with Burke showing up at the school uninvited over multiple weekends, prompting legal action from Wilson Hospital School to bar his presence.

Court records show the institution sought and won an injunction against such disruptions, but Burke persisted, leading to repeated findings of contempt and prior jail terms totaling months.

Judges have described his actions as a pattern of willful disobedience, with one recent ruling denying him holiday release unless he complies fully.

It is true that Burke’s latest jailing in November 2025 centers on contempt violations, not the original pronoun issue alone, though the root cause traces back to that 2022 suspension.

Burke maintains his stance reflects protected beliefs under Irish law, and no evidence suggests fabrication in his claims of faith-based objections.

Media reporting for this story: 60% Center | 20% Left | 15% Right | 5% Unrated

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