School secures temporary suspension of teacher who won't address student as 'they'

The school has acknowledged the teacher's religious beliefs but expects him to communicate with the student in accordance with the student's and their parents' wishes.

The teacher, Enoch Burke, says that a belief system is being forced on students. File picture

A secondary school has secured a temporary High Court injunction preventing a teacher who opposes addressing a student with the pronoun "they" from either attending at its premises or from teaching any classes at the school while he remains suspended from his position.

The injunction was secured, on an ex-parte basis, by the Board of Management of Wilson's Hospital School in Co. Westmeath against Mr Enoch Burke, who the court was told is currently on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of an ongoing disciplinary process.