Former Donegal parish priest remanded as judge demands file in sex offence case

A judge at Derry Magistrate’s Court today said that he was ‘disappointed’ that there was only one police officer assigned to the case of a priest who is facing sex offences.

Edward Gallagher (58) of Orchard Park in Lifford had been charged with one count of attempted sexual communication with a child on dates between April 2 and April 17 2025 and seven further offences, including inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and causing a child to watch sexual activity on April 17 this year as well as charges of possessing indecent images of children.

Defence solicitor Derwin Harvey said that no time frame has been identified for the case as said that the full file is not ready.
Deputy District Judge Trevor Browne gave two weeks to submit a completed file to the court and said he is 'disapointed 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 in custody to appear again on February 19.

Fr Gallagher, who was parish priest in Moville from 2022 until 2024, remains suspended from ministry. Most recently, he served as a curate at the Clonleigh, Camus and Leckpatrick parishes