False Claim: Enoch Burke Was Not Sentenced To Life In Prison Over Pronouns

Summary

Social posts claiming that Irish teacher Enoch Burke was given a life sentence for refusing to use a transgender student's pronouns are false. Court judgments in November 2025 make clear he was detained for repeated contempt of court—specifically trespassing on school property—and not for his views on gender identity or religion.

What Happened

The claim circulated widely on X (formerly Twitter) on December 3, 2025, including an image and posts from Burke's own account describing the judge's order as an "effective life sentence." The viral message said Burke would spend the rest of his life in prison unless a legal challenge succeeded.

What The Court Records Say

Justice Cregan's judgments dated November 18 and November 28, 2025, explain the legal basis for returning Mr. Burke to custody. The judgments repeatedly state that Mr. Burke was not imprisoned for his views on transgender issues or for his religious beliefs. Instead, his detention followed findings of contempt of court for repeatedly breaching orders that prohibited him from entering the school's grounds.

Key passage from the judgment: Mr. Burke has not been imprisoned or fined for his views on transgender issues, which he is perfectly entitled to have and to articulate. Mr. Burke has been imprisoned, and fined, for contempt of court, because he has breached court orders directing him not to trespass on school property.

What Mr. Burke Must Do To Be Released

The November 28 judgment sets out explicitly what Mr. Burke must do to purge his contempt and secure release. The judge said he must give an undertaking that he will not re-enter the school's property without permission. The judgment emphasised that he does not have to accept transgender identities, stop protesting about transgender issues, or change his religious beliefs to be released.

"He must give an undertaking to the court that he will not enter on, or trespass on, the school's property again without the school's consent. That is all."

Why The "Life Sentence" Claim Is Wrong

The claim that Burke received a life sentence misconstrues the court orders. The judge explained what conduct led to detention (repeated disobedience of court orders) and what conduct will end it (an undertaking not to trespass). The court also noted that outstanding fines remain, but that imprisonment is not a punishment for Burke's beliefs.

Context And Earlier Misinformation

Enoch Burke has been involved in legal proceedings since his suspension from Wilson's Hospital School in August 2022. False or misleading accounts about these proceedings have circulated before; news organisations flagged similar rumours after his 2024 arrest.

Bottom Line

The widely shared assertion that Enoch Burke was given a life sentence for refusing to use a student's preferred pronouns is inaccurate. Court documents from November 2025 show he was detained for contempt of court related to trespass, and the judgments explain how he can secure release without renouncing his beliefs.