LIFFORD (IRELAND)
Derry Journal [Derry, Northern Ireland, UK]
February 5, 2026
By Staff Reporter
A judge at Derry Magistrate’s Court said that he was ‘disappointed’ that there was only one police officer assigned to the case of a priest charged with attempted sexual communication with a child.
Edward Gallagher (58) of Orchard Park, Lifford has been charged with one count of attempted sexual communication with a child between April 2 and April 17, 2025, and with seven further offences, including inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, causing a child to watch sexual activity, and charges of possessing indecent images of children.
Defence solicitor Derwin Harvey said that no time-frame has been identified for the case.
Deputy District Judge Trevor Browne gave two weeks to submit a completed file, and said he is ‘dissapointed that only one officer was allocated’ to a case this size.
The prosecution described the charges as a ‘huge crime’ with 650 pages of communications in police possession.
Gallagher was remanded to appear again on February 19.