A preliminary inquiry date was today agreed in the case of a former Donegal priest charged with child sex offences.
Edward Gallagher has been in custody since his arrest in April 2025.
At the time of his arrest, Gallagher, who is originally from Derry, was a priest in the Camus, Clonleigh and Leckpatrick parishes in Donegal but was suspended from ministry following his arrest.
He also previously served as parish priest in Greencastle, Co Tyrone.
Initially charged
Gallagher was initially charged with attempted sexual communication with a child on dates between April 2 and April 17 2025.
However, he was further charged in September 2025 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.
Videolink
Gallagher’s case was back before Derry Magistrates Court today and he joined the hearing via videolink from a custody suite at Maghaberry Prison.
The court was told a provisional preliminary inquiry date of July 16 has been agreed.
However, the case will be brought back before the court on June 18 for review.
In a preliminary inquiry, written statements and evidence help the court decide if the case should proceed to the crown court.
Gallagher’s legal representative told a previous court hearing they had been struggling to find a bail address for him and he remains in custody.