Burke family confront NI education official over transgender guidance

Martina and Josiah Burke tried to speak to the chairman of the Education Authority over concerns they had about a document that "promotes gender ideology"

Members of a high-profile evangelical Christian family confronted chairman of the Education Authority Mervyn Storey at a County Antrim church over gender identity issues.

In a video posted on Enoch Burke's social media, the family accused the former DUP MLA, who is now a councillor, of "promoting transgender ideology" and "enforcing transgenderism in Northern Ireland" over an EA guidance document.

Enoch Burke, a teacher from County Mayo, has been in a long-running legal battle for defying court orders to stay away from his former workplace after he refused to use the pronouns preferred by a transgender student.

The EA have said they are not commenting. The BBC has also approached Storey for a response.

In the video, Mr Burke's mother Martina and his brother Josiah attempted to speak to Storey as he entered the Hebron Free Presbyterian Church in Ballymoney.

Storey did not speak to them, only saying "thank you" and "can you move out of my way?" as he entered the church.

The Burke family referred to an EA guidance document on supporting transgender young people.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said they are "aware of a video being circulated online and enquiries are being conducted in relation to the matter".

Former DUP MLA Mervyn Storey, who is now a Causeway Coast and Glens councillor, was appointed as chairman of the Education Authority in 2024

The first detailed guidance for schools in Northern Ireland on how to support transgender pupils was first published by the EA in 2019.

According to a definition in the guidance, transgender people "have a gender identity which differs from that of their (assigned) birth sex".

However, earlier this year judges at the UK Supreme Court unanimously ruled that a woman is defined by biological sex under equalities law.

The Northern Ireland Equality Commission said they will seek a declaration from the High Court to address "uncertainties" over how to apply the law here.

The Education Minister Paul Givan has asked officials to ensure that his department is complying with the Supreme Court's ruling.

Enoch Burke has been repeatedly jailed for defying court orders to stay away from his former workplace, Wilson's Hospital School in County Westmeath

The Burke family have made appearances at other high profile events, voicing their concerns about gender identity issues.

These include a St Patrick's Day event involving the taoiseach (Irish PM) earlier this year, an election canvas by the then Taoiseach Simon Harris last year and a Church of Ireland synod in County Armagh also in 2024.

Mr Burke has been repeatedly jailed for defying court orders to stay away from his former workplace, Wilson's Hospital School in County Westmeath.

He was first suspended from the school in August 2022 after a public confrontation with its principal over how he should address a transgender student.

The school sought a court injunction to keep him out of its grounds during his suspension and he was eventually sacked for gross misconduct.

Mr Burke challenged his suspension and dismissal and continued to turn up to the school, despite facing large daily fines every time he breached the court order.

Members of his family have been involved in several protests inside and outside Irish courts, arguing that he is being persecuted for his religious beliefs.