🚨 ENOCH BURKE ARRESTED AGAIN – 560 DAYS WASN’T ENOUGH? 😱🇮🇪 The nightmare is BACK! Just days after walking free from Mountjoy Prison after over 560 days locked up, Irish teacher Enoch Burke has been thrown behind bars ONCE MORE! 🤯

He was released on condition he stay AWAY from Wilson’s Hospital School… but he showed up anyway…

Full details;

Enoch Burke, the evangelical Christian teacher at the center of a prolonged legal dispute over gender identity policies, has been returned to Mountjoy Prison after the High Court found him in contempt for repeatedly breaching an injunction barring him from Wilson’s Hospital School in Co Westmeath. The development, occurring on January 19, 2026, marks the latest chapter in a case that has spanned more than three years and seen Burke spend over 560 days in custody across multiple periods.

Burke was released from prison on January 14, 2026, by Mr Justice Brian Cregan of the High Court. The release was intended to allow him time to prepare for an upcoming legal challenge against a Disciplinary Appeal Panel that upheld his dismissal from the school. The order came with a clear condition: Burke must not attend or trespass on the school’s premises. The judge explicitly warned that any violation would result in immediate re-committal.

Despite this, Burke returned to the school gates the following day, January 15, and again on subsequent dates, including January 16, January 17 (Friday), and January 19 (Monday). On the final occasion, gardaí arrested him at the scene outside Wilson’s Hospital School in Multyfarnham. He was brought before the High Court later that morning, where Mr Justice Cregan found him in breach of the order and directed his immediate return to prison. The judge described Burke’s actions as repeated defiance and, in a subsequent written judgment, accused him of “losing sight of the truth” and making statements containing “an avalanche of lies.”

The underlying dispute dates to 2022, when Burke, then a German and history teacher at the Church of Ireland-affiliated boarding school, objected to using a student’s preferred gender-neutral pronouns (“they/them”). He maintained that doing so conflicted with his religious beliefs, rooted in his view that biological sex is immutable and that affirming transgender identities contradicts Christian teachings. The school directed him to comply with its policy on inclusive language and to address the student accordingly. When Burke refused and continued to attend the school in protest, he was suspended and later dismissed.

The school obtained a High Court injunction in September 2022 prohibiting Burke from attending the premises or attempting to teach. His repeated violations led to findings of contempt of court and periods of imprisonment, beginning that month. Burke has consistently argued that the orders violate his constitutional rights to freedom of conscience, religion, and expression under the Irish Constitution. He has refused to purge his contempt by undertaking to comply, insisting he is entitled to attend his place of work.

Court records show Burke has been imprisoned on multiple occasions for these breaches, accumulating significant time in custody. Supporters, including family members and conservative groups, describe him as a “prisoner of conscience” persecuted for his faith. They point to the length of his detentions as evidence of disproportionate punishment for what they frame as a speech and belief issue rather than a criminal act.

The High Court has maintained that the imprisonment stems solely from contempt of court—specifically, willful disobedience of lawful orders—not from Burke’s views on gender or pronouns. In judgments, judges have emphasized that individuals cannot selectively obey court directives and that Burke’s actions disrupt the school’s operations and defy judicial authority. Mr Justice Cregan reiterated this distinction in his latest ruling, stating Burke was imprisoned “not for his beliefs” but for repeated trespassing and non-compliance.

Burke’s release in mid-January was a temporary measure tied to his pending High Court application challenging the Disciplinary Appeal Panel’s decision. The panel, which reviewed his dismissal in December 2025, upheld the school’s actions. Burke alleges procedural unfairness in that process, including restrictions on cross-examination and biased statements from panel members. The court granted the brief release to facilitate preparation, but the condition was non-negotiable.

Following his re-arrest, Burke appeared in court in handcuffs and was remanded to Mountjoy. Video footage shared on social media showed him being led away in a garda vehicle after the arrest at the school gates. In statements posted online, Burke continued to assert that his imprisonment relates to refusing to “affirm transgender ideology,” framing the case as a broader threat to free speech and religious freedom in Ireland.

The case has drawn international attention, particularly from conservative and Christian outlets, which portray it as an example of ideological enforcement in Western education systems. Critics in Ireland and abroad have highlighted the irony of government figures praising Europe’s commitment to free speech while Burke remains incarcerated for his stance. However, fact-checks and mainstream reports clarify that the imprisonment arises from contempt proceedings, not directly from pronoun usage or misgendering.

The school’s position has been that Burke’s refusal created an untenable situation, potentially exposing it to discrimination claims or disrupting the learning environment. Wilson’s Hospital School, a co-educational institution with a Protestant ethos, has policies aligned with equality legislation and Department of Education guidelines on supporting transgender students.

Burke’s family, including his brother Josiah, has been vocal in his defense, using social media to rally support and highlight the cumulative days in custody. Public sympathy varies: some view him as principled and wronged, while others see his actions as stubborn defiance that wastes court resources and disregards legal norms.

The ongoing saga raises questions about balancing individual rights with institutional authority and judicial compliance. Burke’s legal team continues to pursue appeals and challenges, but each breach has reinforced the court’s stance on enforcement. As of late January 2026, Burke remains in Mountjoy Prison, with no immediate indication of another release.

The Department of Education has rejected claims that schools are legally obliged to use preferred pronouns in all circumstances, emphasizing case-by-case approaches under equality laws. However, the Burke case has become a flashpoint in debates over gender identity policies in Irish schools, religious exemptions, and the limits of conscientious objection.

For now, the cycle of release, breach, and re-imprisonment persists, underscoring deep divisions on these issues. Whether future proceedings offer resolution or prolong the standoff remains uncertain, but the High Court’s firm position suggests compliance is required for any path forward.