Christian Cull

BREAKING: Justice delayed for jailed schoolteacher Enoch Burke who refused to use “they” pronoun Judge gives Appeal Panel two weeks to prepare their excuses for a shambolic hearing in December that broke every rule in the book. Enoch Burke was dismissed from Wilson’s Hospital School after he refused to call a student by a new name and the “they” pronoun. He appealed his dismissal to the Disciplinary Appeal Panel (DAP). This three person panel contained a barrister, a teachers union vice president and a member of a school principals organisation. At the appeal hearing on the 13th of December, Enoch Burke was subjected to an Appeal Panel that blocked cross-examination of witnesses from the school, denied Enoch fair procedures and abruptly ended the hearing without closing submissions. After Enoch Burke raised serious concerns, the Appeal Panel (DAP) cobbled together an additional hearing for this Saturday the 10th of January 2026. However it is now clear the DAP appeal cannot proceed with the same panel members that denied Enoch Burke basic rights, one of whom is a former ASTI Vice-President who blatantly stated at the outset of the hearing “If I were instructed by my principal to call a child whatever, I have to implement that instruction, I don’t make the instruction”. Enoch Burke’s application for an injunction halting the Appeal Panel’s handling of his appeal was due to be heard by the High Court this morning at 11am. One minute before the proceedings were due to start, a solicitor for the Appeal Panel approached Enoch Burke and informed him that the so-called “re-convened” hearing on Saturday 10th January would be cancelled. The High Court granted the DAP time to file a replying affidavit. The matter is back in the High Court on Wednesday, 21st January 2026. It is a scandal that Enoch Burke has to fight to simply get a fair hearing of his appeal.

550 DAYS IN PRISON: Enoch Burke to spend Christmas behind bars