Irish professor Enoch Burke, who has spent more than 700 days in prison as part of his legal battle with the school from which he was expelled after refusing to use a name and pronouns chosen by a transgender student, appeared this Thursday, October 29, at Armagh Cathedral to demand explanations from Archbishop John McDowell, Anglican Primate of All Ireland.
Burke shared a video of the encounter on his X account, in which he reproaches the archbishop for remaining silent during his imprisonment. The professor maintains that McDowell, linked as a patron to Wilson’s Hospital School, the Church of Ireland educational center where he worked, has failed in his responsibility to defend Christian teachings.
“I have languished in a cell for defending the spirit of the Church of Ireland and for refusing to abandon the truth of the Scriptures. What do you have to say, Archbishop?” he asked.
The episode occurred on the same day that the High Court of Ireland modified the judicial restrictions imposed on the professor and prohibited him from approaching within 100 meters of the school.
Burke accuses the archbishop of remaining silent in the face of the imposition of gender ideology
According to the account shared by Burke himself, the meeting began when he approached McDowell to ask why he had not publicly intervened in his defense.
The professor recalled that his conflict with Wilson’s Hospital School began in 2022, when the school asked teachers to use a new name and the English neutral pronoun they to refer to a student.
Burke refused to comply with that instruction, considering that it contradicted his Christian convictions about the difference between man and woman. He was subsequently suspended and began a prolonged legal battle with the school.
During his meeting with McDowell, the professor insisted that the teachings of the Church of Ireland recognize the distinction between both sexes.
“The doctrine you have sworn to defend is man and woman, male and female,” he reproached him.
He also accused the archbishop of remaining silent while, according to his complaint, the affirmation of transgender identity is promoted in educational centers linked to his denomination.
“He is silent, his lips are sealed,” Burke stated.
McDowell withdrew to his residence without answering the questions
In the video shared by the professor, the archbishop appears trying to continue on his way while Burke directs successive questions at him.
According to the latter’s account, McDowell responded that he was “attending to his legitimate affairs” and headed toward his residence, known as See House, located next to Armagh Cathedral.
The dean of the cathedral accompanied the archbishop during the encounter and intervened while Burke continued to demand explanations.
“Look at him, his lips are sealed; this is what he does and gets away with while this is promoted in all schools, at Wilson’s Hospital School,” the professor declared.
Before McDowell entered the residence, Burke added: “You will not get away with it, Archbishop McDowell.”
The professor holds the Anglican primate responsible for not having intervened in a conflict that, in his view, directly affects the Christian identity of the Church of Ireland schools.
No public response from the archbishop to the accusations made during this encounter is recorded in the available information.
The courts prohibit Burke from approaching within 100 meters of the school
The confrontation in Armagh coincided with a new judicial decision on the case.
According to Irish public broadcaster RTÉ reported, Judge Brian Cregan, of the High Court of Ireland, modified the order preventing Burke from accessing Wilson’s Hospital School this Thursday.
The new provision establishes that the professor cannot be within 100 meters of the educational center and contemplates his possible arrest if he violates the restriction.
The magistrate also addressed the financial penalties accumulated by Burke, which amount to 208,268 euros, and granted him a period of 21 days to submit a declaration of his income and assets.
These fines are related to repeated violations of the court orders that prevented him from accessing the school.
Although the origin of the confrontation lies in his refusal to use the name and pronouns requested for a student, Burke’s successive imprisonments have occurred due to contempt of the court orders issued during the litigation.
The professor was dismissed from the educational center and has since maintained his opposition to the decisions made by the school and the courts.
More than 700 days in prison and fines exceeding 208,000 euros
Enoch Burke’s case has lasted more than four years and has led to numerous legal proceedings.
Last July, it was reported that the professor had accumulated more than 700 days in prison and fines exceeding 208,000 euros, while continuing to defend that his refusal to use the requested pronouns responded to his religious convictions.
The conflict has also affected other members of his family. In April, his mother and sister were sentenced to two weeks in prison for contempt in the context of the proceedings related to the case.
Burke maintains that his actions respond to the defense of the Scriptures and Christian teachings on man and woman. For their part, the judicial resolutions have focused on non-compliance with the orders issued to prevent his presence at the school.
The new 100-meter restriction and the obligation to declare his financial situation keep the legal confrontation open, while Burke continues to publicly demand the support of the authorities of the Church of Ireland.