Teacher Who Refused to ‘Call a Boy a Girl’ Now Spending Christmas Behind Bars

Teacher Enoch Burke will spend Christmas in prison after refusing to follow a court order that barred him from entering Wilson’s Hospital School, where he previously taught. The dispute began in 2022 when Burke rejected a principal’s request to address a student by a new name and pronoun. Although he insists he is being punished for his religious beliefs, the court says he is jailed for repeatedly trespassing on school grounds despite clear orders not to.

During a High Court hearing, the judge warned Burke about interruptions and offered him a chance to purge his contempt by agreeing to stay away from the school. Burke refused, claiming he had done nothing wrong. The judge rejected his arguments, saying Burke had ignored valid court orders for years and that he alone was responsible for wasting time and public money.

Since Burke refused to comply, the judge cancelled his December review date and set a new one for March, meaning he will remain in Mountjoy Prison until he agrees to follow the court’s instructions. Burke maintains he will continue fighting the case, including filing an appeal to the Supreme Court.