PLANS to take forward a case involving a former Donegal priest accused of child sex offences were delayed today due to technical issues.
Father Edward Gallagher has been in custody since his arrest in April 2025.
He was initially charged with attempted sexual communication with a child on dates between April 2 and April 17, 2025.
However, he was further charged with a number of other alleged offences.
These include allegedly possessing an indecent image of a child and possessing extreme pornographic images.
He is also charged with making an indecent image of a child, distributing indecent images of a child, causing a child to engage in sexual activity, causing a child to watch a sexual activity and sexual communication with a child.
These offences are alleged to have happened on April 17, 2025.
Videolink
Gallagher appeared via videolink from prison at Derry Magistrates Court on Thursday for a planned preliminary inquiry.
A preliminary inquiry is a legal procedure held before a trial to determine if there is sufficient evidence against a defendant to justify sending the case to trial.
However, shortly before the hearing was due to begin today, the court was informed that relevant papers to the case were not available due to technical issues.
Addressing Gallagher, the judge said he needed to see the papers in order to decide whether the accused should be returned for trial.
The judge said he was ‘going to make an investigation’ as to why the papers were not available.
The proposed hearing was adjourned until next Thursday, July 23.
Parish priest
Gallagher, who is originally from Derry and celebrated the 30th anniversary of his ordination in 2024, was a curate at the Clonleigh, Camus and Leckpatrick parishes in Donegal when he was arrested.
He moved to the parishes in 2024, having previously been parish priest of Moville in Donegal.
From 2015 to 2022, Gallagher was parish priest of the Greencastle and Badoney Lower Parish in Tyrone.
He has also served in a number of other parishes in the Derry Diocese, including Limavady, Cappagh, Long Tower and Holy Family.