Irish teacher Enoch Burke returns to protest at school that sacked him for refusing to call a boy a girl following his third release from prison - and claims he was 'welcomed' by pupils
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A controversial teacher who was 'sacked for refusing to use gender neutral pronouns' says students at his former school are 'showing support' for his protests. Enoch Burke found himself in the centre of Ireland's culture wars after he refused to refer to a transitioning transgender student's pronouns in May 2022.
![[Pictured: Disgraced teacher Enoch Burke outside Wilson's Hospital School yesterday. The former history teacher stood outside in the sub-zero temperatures and said he was 'reporting from work']](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/07/09/93817969-14258319-image-a-6_1736242348352.jpg)
It sparked a chain of events that has led to Enoch being jailed for repeatedly showing up at Wilson's Hospital School in County Westmeath after he was fired two years ago. Enoch, who has amassed over €193,000 in fines for refusing to comply with the High Court order to stay away from the school, was released from prison for a third time on 20 December 2024.
![[Enoch Burke was supported by 20 protestors, who stood outside the school gates holding signs]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/07/10/93820025-14258319-image-a-30_1736246634436.jpg)
In an attempt to deter Enoch from returning to Wilson's Hospital School, the judge doubled the daily fine from €700 to €1,400. However, this didn't stop the teacher, who is still receiving his full salary while he appeals his sacking, from turning up at the school on the first day of term yesterday.
![[Wilson's Hospital School in County Westmeath, Ireland. The former teacher took issue with the former headteacher asking staff to refer to a transgender student by their new name and pronouns]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/07/09/83694901-14258319-Wilson_s_Hospital_School_in_County_Westmeath_Ireland_The_former_-a-9_1736242428855.jpg)
Although the temperature dropped below zero at points, Enoch stood outside his former place of employment for the duration of its teaching hours yesterday. Speaking to the Irish Daily Mirror, Enoch claimed students had shown their support for him by waving from their classrooms.
![[Enoch's father held up a sign outside the school in December 2023 reading: 'Christmas in Mountjoy for Christian teacher']](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/07/09/83694905-14258319-Enoch_s_father_held_up_a_sign_outside_the_school_in_December_202-a-7_1736242360083.jpg)
Pictured: Enoch Burke outside Wilson's Hospital School in County Westmeath in defiance of their court order. He said: 'I should be in a classroom today, in a heated classroom doing the job I love and teaching the children I love. 'There’s only one reason I was pushed out into the cold and it’s because I said I would not accept transgenderism.'.
![[Enoch's mother Martina protests outside the school, where the annual carol concert was being held in December 2023]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/07/09/78814809-14258319-Enoch_s_mother_Martina_protests_outside_the_school_where_the_ann-a-8_1736242389488.jpg)
