Police arrested Irish teacher Enoch Burke again this week, marking the third time since his criticism of his school two years ago over transgender ideology.
On Monday, Ireland’s National Police, An Garda Síochána, arrested Burke outside Wilson's Hospital School in County Westmeath. He had previously taught history and German there. Burke was taken to Mountjoy Prison, a men’s jail in Dublin.
Burke’s X account, run by his brother Josiah, shared footage of the arrest.
"I’m not going to turn my back on my students," Burke said while being placed in the police vehicle.
"I have a right to my job. I have a right to work here," he added. "I have a right to be here and not tell students they need to take puberty blockers."
Burke also spoke to the officers, saying, "You don’t have a duty to do what’s wrong."
Later that day, Newsweek reported that a judge ruled Burke should stay in Mountjoy Prison for violating a court order. The order required him to stay away from the school once the term began. The judge mentioned Burke could be freed if he agreed to follow the court's ruling, but Burke gave no clear response.
The Irish Times reported his case will be reviewed again on Oct. 11. Until then, Burke remains in Mountjoy Prison.
In 2022, Burke was suspended after refusing to use a transgender student’s preferred name and pronouns. He was later jailed for "contempt of court" after disobeying a High Court order to stay away from the school.
Burke stated he could not "in conscience" follow that order and stayed in Mountjoy Prison until December 2022.
In Sept. 2023, he violated the same order, resulting in his second arrest. He was released in June during the school’s summer break.