Was Enoch Burke arrested again in 2026 for refusing to use "they" pronoun for a student? No, that's not true: Burke was arrested outside Wilson's Hospital School in Multyfarnham, Ireland on Jan. 19, 2026 for again violating a court order that he stay away from the school. Irish newspapers operating independently of one another reported that the High Court which released him from prison to prepare for a hearing ordered him back into prison when he turned up at the school.
The claim that Burke's latest imprisonment was for refusal to use "they" pronouns for a student appeared in a Jan. 19, 2026 X post by the @MarioNawfal account (archived here) with text that read:
IRISH TEACHER ARRESTED AGAIN AFTER REFUSING TO USE "THEY" PRONOUN FOR STUDENT
Back in cuffs again. Enoch Burke, the Irish teacher who's already spent over 560 days in jail, was arrested again this morning outside Wilson's Hospital School.
Why? He wouldn't call a male student "they," as demanded by the school principal.
"This is all about transgender ideology, forcing it upon every school in the country.
They want silence, not debate. But my conscience will bring me back to this gate.
I was never told I had to renounce my Christian beliefs to do this job.
They can throw me in a prison cell, but they can't force me to lie."
Here's what the post looked like on X at the time this was written:
(Image Source: Lead Stories screenshot of post x.com/MarioNawfal/status/2013227802833887664.)
The post provided nothing to support its implication that Burke was arrested for refusing to use pronouns preferred by transgender students.
It repeats the false claim Burke has made since he was arrested Sept. 2, 2024 for contempt of court after repeatedly showing up to teach at a school after he was suspended and told not to return. He was arrested at that time for defying a court order, not for his views on transgender issues.
News reports in 2024 said Burke, a history and German teacher, was suspended from Wilson's Hospital School in Ireland in August 2022. This followed his public confrontation with the principal about a transitioning student during a school event.
Burke refused to use the student's preferred pronouns and new name, arguing that it violates his religious beliefs. After his suspension, he continued to come to the school and attempt to teach, leading to a court order that barred him from the premises.
Burke's arrest in early September 2024 was his third for violating the court order to stay away from the school in County Westmeath, according to news accounts.
After 560 days in Mountjoy Jail, Burke was released by a judge who decreed he not return to the school while preparing for a hearing. Burke returned to the school to again protest his suspension from teaching. On Jan. 19, 2026, The Irish Times (archived here) and TheJournal.ie (archived here) reported a High Court judge ordered Burke returned to jail.
Lead Stories has requested a copy of the judge's order by which to verify the reports from the two news outlets, which operate independently. The Times is owned by The Irish Times Trust (archived here). Published only online, TheJournal.ie is owned by Eamonn and Brian Fallon (archived here). Lead Stories will add court documents when supplied by Irish judicial authorities.
