LONDONDERRY (UNITED KINGDOM)
Belfast Telegraph [Belfast, Northern Ireland]
July 16, 2026
By Louise Doyle
A technical issue prevented progress in the case against a suspended Londonderry priest charged with child sex offences when it came before court today.
Edward Gallagher (59) is currently in custody at Maghaberry Prison.
Gallagher was arrested and charged after he was confronted by a group of people outside a hotel in Derry on April 17 last year.
The former parish priest and curate in the Diocese of Derry currently faces a number of charges alleged to have been committed between April 2 and April 17, 2025.
He is charged with attempting to sexually communicate with a male he believed to be under the age of 16.
He also faces charges of possessing an indecent image of a child; possessing an extreme pornographic image; making and distributing or showing indecent images of a child; causing unknown children to watch a third person engaging in sexual activity; and sexually communicating with unknown children.
Gallagher appeared today before Londonderry Magistrates’ Court via videolink for a planned preliminary enquiry (PE), which is held to determine whether there is sufficient evidence to send a case forward to trial.
However, the court was told that the relevant papers were unavailable because of technical issues.
Addressing Gallagher, the judge said he was “going to make an investigation” into the matter.
The case was adjourned until Thursday, July 23.
Gallagher previously served as parish priest in Donegal and Tyrone.
He also served as curate in Limavady, Cappagh in Co Tyrone, and Holy Family Parish in Derry.
Before his suspension, Gallagher was administrator of Long Tower Parish in Derry and had also served as associate pastor and pastor at Sacred Heart Parish in the city.