(ZENIT News / Dublin, 04.09.2024).- Christian teacher Enoch Burke was imprisoned for a third time in Ireland, with the pretext of violating a judicial order that banned him from going to Wilson’s Hospital School . This legal conflict has caught public attention. It began in 2022 when Burke refused to refer to a student with neutral pronouns, challenging the School’s inclusion policy.
Burke was arrested on September 2 after appearing in the School, despite a current judicial order that impedes him from doing so. Judge Alexander Owens issued the order last year, but Burke has challenged it During a hearing in the High Court, Judge Michael Quinn said that the proofs presented demonstrated that Burke had violated the terms of the court ruling.
Judge Quinn ordered Burke’s detention in the Mountjoy prison and left open the possibility of his release if he decides to comply with the order before the next judicial review, foreseen for October 11. Meanwhile, the court pointed out the impact that Burke’s continuous presence was having on the School’s functioning, causing disturbances between the staff and the students, which has no empirical basis.
Burke has remained firm in his position, arguing that his imprisonment is due to his refusal to accept what he described as “the infernal ideology of transgenderism.” According to his version, the root of the conflict lies in his opposition to the School’s directive to use a neutral pronoun to refer to a male student. Burke said the School was denying him his religious rights as a Christian and he quoted biblical passages to back his belief that his case was an attack on truth and justice.
BREAKING: Teacher Enoch Burke arrested at Wilson’s Hospital School after refusing to endorse and affirm transgender ideology.
Judge Barry O’Donnell, who made almost €400,000 from 2016-2018 representing TUSLA as a barrister, ordered his arrest.
TUSLA is the Irish State ‘Child… pic.twitter.com/Ni8xLSRS7a
— Enoch Burke (@EnochBurke) September 2, 2024
Burke also said that the lawsuit had trampled on his principles, but he was challenging when stating that “the truth will resurface and that he would have to “answer to God” for his actions.
Burke’s family, present at the hearing, also criticized the judicial decision. They insisted that a report of the former Director of Wilson’s Hospital School, Niamh McShane, showed the true nature of the case. However, the Judge reiterated that his role was not to reconsider the ideological aspects of the conflict, but simply to assess if Burke had complied with Judge Owens’ order.
Despite having been imprisoned on two occasions and fined for contempt, Burke has continued to appear in the School, which has led the School’s Board of Directors to solicit new judicial measures. According to the Board, Burke’s presence has generated concern among the staff and has been “harmful” to the School environment. Burke is a teacher and is still on the payroll. He says he only goes there to work.
The conflict between Burke and the School has evolved into a prolonged legal battle, with the teacher facing a daily fine of 700 euros since the beginning of the school year in August. Despite having spent more than 400 days in prison in different periods, Burke has continued to challenge the judicial orders and to defend his right to be in the School, saying that he would not abandon his students.
This coming October 11, the High Court will review the case again. In the meantime, Burke’s case continues to generate debate around religious freedom.
