LONDONDERRY (UNITED KINGDOM)
Derry Journal [Derry, Northern Ireland, UK]
October 5, 2026
By Brendan McDaid
The new Catholic Bishop of Derry Michael Router has vowed that the diocese will ‘move immediately to seek the most serious penalty available under Church law’ for paedophile priest Fr Edward Gallagher.
The Bishop was reacting after the disgraced priest pleaded guilty to 109 sex offences at Derry Crown Court on Monday. Gallagher will be sentenced in December.
Speaking after the hearing, Bishop Router said his thoughts were first and foremost ‘with all those who have been affected by the case involving Father Edward Gallagher’, and ‘particularly the children who have suffered harm and those who continue to live with the consequences of abuse and exploitation’.
“The events of the past 18 months have caused immense distress to victims and survivors of abuse, parishioners, families, clergy and the wider community,” Bishop Router said.
“While Fr Gallagher was immediately suspended from priestly ministry following his arrest, the substantive church process was put on hold so that it would not interfere with, prejudice, or complicate the criminal investigation and prosecution.
“Now that the criminal proceedings have reached this stage, there is no longer any reason for the Church’s canonical process to remain suspended. Accordingly, the Diocese will move immediately to seek the most serious penalty available under Church law.
“I can confirm that I am petitioning the Holy See to submit the case directly to the Holy Father with a recommendation that Father Edward Gallagher be immediately dismissed from the clerical state. I have already instructed that the documentation required by the Holy See be finalised and transmitted without delay. My petition will be that this case be treated as one of exceptional gravity and that Father Gallagher be removed permanently from the clerical state through the expedited procedure provided by Church law.
“The priesthood is a sacred trust exercised in the service of God and His people. Conduct of this nature represents a radical betrayal of that trust and is wholly incompatible with the obligations and responsibilities of priestly ministry.”
Bishop Router said that while the Church cannot undo the harm that has been caused and while no canonical penalty would remove the suffering experienced by victims and survivors, “nevertheless, the Church has a responsibility to respond truthfully, justly and decisively”.
He said the Diocese of Derry has cooperated fully with the PSNI and all relevant statutory authorities throughout their investigations and will continue to do so.
“Today’s proceedings,” the Bishop concluded, “may lead others who have experienced abuse or inappropriate behaviour, whether in this case or in any other context within the life of the Church, to come forward. I want to assure them that they will be listened to with respect and taken seriously. I encourage anyone who has concerns, information or past experiences they wish to discuss to contact the civil authorities or the Diocese’s Designated Liaison Person where support and guidance are available. Anyone wishing to contact the Diocese’s Safeguarding Office may do so by contacting Marie O’Kane, Designated Liaison Person, on 07596 500793 or dlp@derrydiocese.org.”
He was charged with 43 counts of attempted sexual communication with a child aged under 16, 43 charges of possessing indecent images of children, 13 counts of possession of indecent images of a child, two counts of possessing images of a child and possessing an extreme pornographic image, five counts of attempting to encourage a child to engage in sexual activity, attempted sexual communication with a child under 16 and distributing indecent images.
All of the charges related to dates between June 22, 2023 and April 18, 2025.
When the charges were put to him, Gallagher pleaded guilty to them all.