Enoch Burke was arrested at Wilson's Hospital School for "sitting in an empty classroom" at school in defiance of a court order.
He will remain in Mountjoy Prison until he purges his contempt or until further orders from the High Court, Mr. Justice Michael Quinn told the court
According to Irish media, which quoted Justice Michael Quinn, Burke was placed on paid administrative leave from Wilson’s Hospital School, County Westmeath, on Aug. 22, following an alleged dispute over the use of pronouns for a transgender student.
The suspension was pending the conclusion of a disciplinary process.
The school’s Board of Management (BoM) later secured a temporary High Court order that prevented Burke from attending the school premises or teaching classes after he was said to not be adhering to the terms of his suspension.
On Sept. 5, Burke was found guilty of contempt of court for being a persistent presence on school grounds.
According to The Irish Times, the judge noted that the decision to jail Burke was based on whether there was a willful breach of a court order.
Burke told the court he could not "in good conscience" comply with the court order.
Representing himself, Burke said he loved his job and loved to teach, adding that he could not comply with the school's request to "call a boy a girl", which was something he could not do in good conscience.
He said the school board was not at liberty to place a teacher on administrative leave except for cases of gross misconduct, adding that complying with the order would be to admit that sticking to his beliefs in male and female qualifies as gross misconduct.
"I cannot do that, transgenderism is contrary to my Christian belief," Burke told the High Court.
He said the school's request was contrary to the ethos of the school and the teachings of the Church of Ireland in addition to the teachings of all major religions in Ireland.
He said he respected the law and the court system but added that he could not comply with the court order as doing so would make him a hypocrite.
Burke said he could not purge his contempt because he believed it was something he considered to be a breach of his Christian beliefs.
The next phase of the disciplinary process will reportedly take place in mid-September.
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