A former Principal of Wilson's Hospital secondary school has described Enoch Burke's "public outbursts" at a religious service and a follow-up dinner where he voiced his opposition to "a request" to call a student by a different name and pronoun as being "wholly disrespectful," "serious misbehaviour" and "unprofessional."
Niamh McShane, who was Principal and Warden of the Co Westmeath school between 2016 and 2022, said that in May 2022 she sent an email to staff at the school, which she described as "a request," to refer to a student at the school who wished to transition by a different name.
In reply to questions from the school's counsel Mark Connaughton SC, she said despite Mr Burke's opposition to the request, she had attempted to reach an accommodation with him to see if a compromise could be found over the issue.
