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Teacher jailed in row
Transgender in Education
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CHAPTER
Transgender-2
An Irish teacher suspended for refusing to use gender-neutral pronouns has said he would rather stay in prison for a century than compromise his beliefs on transgenderism.
Enoch Burke, an evangelical Christian, was jailed for contempt of court on Monday after breaching the injunction not to go to or try to teach at Wilson’s Hospital School in Co Westmeath.
Burke was arrested after turning up to the school “to work” after a disciplinary process begun after he refused to refer to a transgender student as “they”.
Wednesday’s hearing in Dublin was a chance for the secondary school history and German teacher to “purge” his contempt and be freed by consenting to the order during a hearing to review its terms.
Instead, he told the court that even if he had to remain in prison for “every hour of every day for the next 100 years” he would not comply.
He said transgenderism was contrary to scripture, and that in this instance he would “only obey God,” and would “not obey man”.
Enoch Burke, an evangelical Christian, was jailed for contempt of court on Monday after breaching the injunction not to go to or try to teach at Wilson’s Hospital School in Co Westmeath.
Burke was arrested after turning up to the school “to work” after a disciplinary process begun after he refused to refer to a transgender student as “they”.
Wednesday’s hearing in Dublin was a chance for the secondary school history and German teacher to “purge” his contempt and be freed by consenting to the order during a hearing to review its terms.
Instead, he told the court that even if he had to remain in prison for “every hour of every day for the next 100 years” he would not comply.
He said transgenderism was contrary to scripture, and that in this instance he would “only obey God,” and would “not obey man”.
Enoch Burke, an evangelical Christian, was jailed for contempt of court on Monday after breaching the injunction not to go to or try to teach at Wilson’s Hospital School in Co Westmeath.
Burke was arrested after turning up to the school “to work” after a disciplinary process begun after he refused to refer to a transgender student as “they”.
Wednesday’s hearing in Dublin was a chance for the secondary school history and German teacher to “purge” his contempt and be freed by consenting to the order during a hearing to review its terms.
Instead, he told the court that even if he had to remain in prison for “every hour of every day for the next 100 years” he would not comply.
He said transgenderism was contrary to scripture, and that in this instance he would “only obey God,” and would “not obey man”.
Enoch Burke, an evangelical Christian, was jailed for contempt of court on Monday after breaching the injunction not to go to or try to teach at Wilson’s Hospital School in Co Westmeath.
Burke was arrested after turning up to the school “to work” after a disciplinary process begun after he refused to refer to a transgender student as “they”.
Wednesday’s hearing in Dublin was a chance for the secondary school history and German teacher to “purge” his contempt and be freed by consenting to the order during a hearing to review its terms.
Instead, he told the court that even if he had to remain in prison for “every hour of every day for the next 100 years” he would not comply.
He said transgenderism was contrary to scripture, and that in this instance he would “only obey God,” and would “not obey man”.
Enoch Burke - Brian Lawless/PA © Brian Lawless/PA
Enoch Burke was jailed for contempt of court on Monday
© Provided by The Telegraph
© Provided by The Telegraph
Burke, who represented himself, was returned to Mountjoy Prison to spend a third night in jail and was ordered to pay the legal costs of the school, which has suspended him on full pay.
He has been told he can be freed simply by signalling his intention to abide by the injunction, which the Church of Ireland school took out to prevent disruption at the beginning of the school term.
In June, Burke had publicly confronted the principal over the policy at a church service and dinner to mark the school’s 260th anniversary.
Despite his paid suspension, he would turn up at the school for “meetings” or simply to sit in an empty classroom declaring he was ready to teach before his arrest earlier this week.
Mr Justice Max Barrett, ruled that the injunction should remain in place until a High Court decision. The court’s decision was about the terms of the injunction and Burke’s suspension, and not his religious beliefs, he said.
Burke had earlier claimed he was before the courts over his refusal to comply with what he said was his unlawful suspension.
‘Ludicrous’ allegations of gross misconduct
The direction by the school to address one of its students by a different pronoun was to deny him his constitutional rights to religious freedom, he claimed
“That is the issue,” he said.
He has been told he can be freed simply by signalling his intention to abide by the injunction, which the Church of Ireland school took out to prevent disruption at the beginning of the school term.
In June, Burke had publicly confronted the principal over the policy at a church service and dinner to mark the school’s 260th anniversary.
Despite his paid suspension, he would turn up at the school for “meetings” or simply to sit in an empty classroom declaring he was ready to teach before his arrest earlier this week.
Mr Justice Max Barrett, ruled that the injunction should remain in place until a High Court decision. The court’s decision was about the terms of the injunction and Burke’s suspension, and not his religious beliefs, he said.
Burke had earlier claimed he was before the courts over his refusal to comply with what he said was his unlawful suspension.
‘Ludicrous’ allegations of gross misconduct
The direction by the school to address one of its students by a different pronoun was to deny him his constitutional rights to religious freedom, he claimed
“That is the issue,” he said.
Enoch Burke (left) arrives at court - Brian Lawless/PA
© Provided by The Telegraph
© Provided by The Telegraph
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