A Christian teacher has been told he will stay behind bars this Christmas after pleading with the judge to release him for the festive season.
Enoch Burke , a teacher from Wilson's Hospital School in County Westmeath, Ireland was jailed in September for refusing to obey a court order that he must not enter the school.
He was first suspended in August this year, for refusing to refer to a student by their preferred gender pronouns.
He cited his Christian beliefs, but after showing up at the school on the first day of term in September, he was arrested.
Yesterday he begged Mr Justice Conor Digham to release him from Mountjoy Prison, Dublin.
As reported by the Daily Mail he said he was: "not a thief, a murderer or a drug dealer," neither a "criminal."
He went onto say: "free me for Christmas, I am in prison for my religious beliefs."
Judge Digham however said he was not to be released, due to Mr Burke not complying with the court order.
Mr Burke will now face a later date hearing at the High Court and will remain in custody and will only be released if he agrees to comply with the order and stay away from the school.