"Mr Burke, a fundamentalist Christian, was dismissed in January 2023 for gross misconduct after clashing publicly with school management over a direction to staff that a transgender pupil be called by a new name and they/them pronouns. Despite his dismissal and an earlier suspension, he continued to show up "for work", even after the school secured injunctions barring him from doing so. As a result he has spent 564 days in prison over four separate periods and been fined €225,000."
"In the teeming rain, he was stood just inside the school's gate, his progress up the driveway blocked by a security guard. Mr Burke arrived there shortly before 9am, accompanied by his brother Isaac. Gardaí arrived an hour later and arrested him. He is expected to appear before Mr Justice Brian Cregan in the High Court in the coming hours."
"Mr Justice Cregan released him "in the interests of justice" to allow him to prepare for a lawsuit he is taking against the Disciplinary Appeals Panel, which he claims did not give him fair procedures at a hearing in December. Mr Burke was released even after telling the judge he did not need to be released to prepare for that case and that, if released, he would return to Wilson's Hospital."
An anti-transgender schoolteacher, Mr Burke, arrived at a Co Westmeath secondary school in breach of an injunction and was arrested after Gardaí responded. The High Court had ordered his arrest and to bring him for a committal hearing. Mr Burke was dismissed in January 2023 for gross misconduct after clashing with management over a directive to use a transgender pupil's new name and they/them pronouns. He continued attending the school despite injunctions, resulting in 564 days in prison across four periods and €225,000 in fines. Since last March his salary has been diverted to pay fines and a €15,000 trespass award. He was released to prepare a lawsuit against the Disciplinary Appeals Panel.
Read at Irish Independent
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