Irish Teacher Jailed in Pronouns Case Returns to School Despite Court Order
15th January 2026
The Irish schoolteacher who became famous over his perseverance in protecting his freedom of conscience returned to his former workplace on Thursday morning, January 15th, less than 24 hours after being released from prison, despite a High Court warning that doing so could see him jailed again.
Enoch Burke, a German and history teacher and an Evangelical Christian, arrived at Wilson’s Hospital School in central Ireland shortly after 9.15 a.m., one day after walking free from Mountjoy Prison in Dublin.
Burke had been released on Wednesday by the High Court to allow him to prepare legal proceedings against a disciplinary appeals body reviewing his dismissal from the school.
The judge warned that the release was conditional on Burke not presenting himself at the school and stated that he would be returned to prison if he did.