04-07-2025
Fr Edward Gallagher charged with additional seven child sex offences
A Donegal-based priest who is originally from Londonderry, who has been in prison custody since last April charged with attempting to sexually communicate with a child, has appeared before the Magistrate's Court in Derry charged with an additional seven child sex abuse offences.
Fr Edward Gallagher, 58, from Orchard Park in Lifford, had been released from Maghaberry Prison yesterday into the custody of the PSNI for three days to enable them to interview him about seven similar offences.
In court today the defendant, who has been suspended from ministry following his arrest last April, was additionally charged with possessing an extreme pornographic image and with possessing an indecent photograph or pseudo-photograph of a child.
He's alleged to have committed the offences on April 17 of this year.
The defendant was further charged with making and distributing indecent photographs or pseudo-photographs of children, sexually communicating with a child and with two counts of an adult causing or inciting unknown children under the age of sixteen to engage in or watch a sexual act.
Those offences are also alleged to have occurred last April 17.
A detective constable from the PSNI's Public Protection Branch told District Judge Oonagh Mullan that he could connect the defendant to the seven new charges.
The defendant, who stood handcuffed in the dock alongside a prison officer, spoke only to confirm his name and address and that he understood the charges against him.
Barrister Stephen Chapman said he was not making a bail application and the defendant was returned to custody in Maghaberry Prison.
The case was adjourned until July 31 when the defendant will appear via video link.
