Enoch Burke, the evangelical teacher on the centre of a four-year trans row, is once more in prison after he was found to have breached a court order that he remain away from the varsity he formerly taught at.
The controversy began in May 2022 when the principal of Wilson’s Hospital School, which is run by the Church of Ireland and at which Burke taught, sent an email requesting that staff use ‘they/them’ pronouns for a trans-identifying student.
Burke objected in writing, but took things a step further at a spiritual service at the varsity by publicly opposing the move in front of staff, students and teachers.
Following the incident Burke was suspended and the varsity obtained an injunction barring him from the varsity premises. Burke continued turning up, insisting he was there to do his job, and was first jailed in September 2022 for contempt of court.
Burke was officially dismissed from the varsity in 2023 but continued turning as much as what he described as his place of business, in contravention of court orders.
He has been jailed multiple times for continuing to indicate up at the varsity, and has racked up fines totalling greater than 225,000 euros.
On Monday Burke was arrested and sent to prison yet again after returning to the varsity gates. In a post on X, Burke asserted that he was arrested for “refusing to affirm transgender ideology”.
Comedy author Graham Linehan appeared to support Burke along with his own post on X. Linehan was himself been arrested for allegedly inciting violence against trans identifying people, but was later released for gratis.
Linehan said, “Ireland’s police, like Ireland’s journalists, know the vital thing is to maintain him [Burke] quiet as soon as he starts talking in regards to the insanity of gender ideology.”
