Teacher fined for refusing to call a trans boy a "girl" in Ireland

Enoch Burke, a secondary school teacher in Ireland. Photo: Daily Mail

On September 4, 2025, a court in Ireland fined teacher Enoch Burke £195,000 for violating a court order issued after he refused to address a transgender student as a "girl". This was reported by Daily Mail.

Burke, who taught history and German at Wilson’s Hospital School in Co Westmeath, refused in August 2022 to use the student's new name and pronoun, stating that it contradicted his evangelical beliefs. Following a conflict with the school administration, he was suspended from teaching and dismissed in January 2023. Despite this, the teacher repeatedly appeared at the school premises, claiming he came to "work".

The court considered these actions as deliberate contempt of orders and imposed hefty fines on Burke. In September 2025, the court increased the daily penalty from £1,200 to £1,700, bringing the total fines to nearly £195,000.

During the conflict, Burke has already spent a total of 513 days behind bars for three separate terms for ignoring court orders. The teacher insists that his punishment is illegal and violates his right to freedom of religion. He claims that being forced to address in the feminine contradicts his Christian views.

The case has gained significant public attention in Ireland. Burke's family is known for their evangelical views and active campaigning against same-sex marriages and transgender ideology. During court sessions, the teacher's relatives frequently engaged in disputes with judges and police, receiving warnings for contempt of court.

Previously, the UOJ reported that a mass was held in Rome for LGBT Catholics.

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