Former Tyrone parish priest in court over child sex allegation

A FORMER Tyrone parish priest appeared in court today charged with attempted sexual communication with a child.

Father Edward Gallagher, who served as parish priest in Greencastle from 2015 to 2022, is accused of attempting to contact the child on dates between April 2 and April 17 this year.

The 58-year-old priest, who is now based in Donegal, was arrested in Derry on Thursday after being confronted by so-called paedophile hunters.

A video of the incident was widely shared online.

Fr Gallagher, whose address was given as Orchard Park, Lifford, Co Donegal, appeared this morning before a special sitting of Derry Magistrates Court, which was held in Dungannon courthouse.

He joined the hearing by remote link from Waterside police station in Derry.

When asked if he understood the charge against him, Fr Gallagher, who was dressed in a grey tracksuit, replied: “I do”.

A police constable told the court he believed he could connect the accused to the charge.

There was no bail application at today’s hearing and Fr Gallagher’s solicitor, Stephen Chapman, asked for him to be remanded in custody.

Mr Chapman said there was ‘an issue over addresses’ and they were ‘in conversation’ with the police about that.

The solicitor added there ‘may be a resolution’ to the issue around addresses in the ‘next week to ten days’.

Fr Gallagher was remanded in custody to appear via videolink before Derry Magistrates Court on May 1.

Mr Chapman asked for his client to be granted legal aid.

The solicitor said Fr Gallagher would have been in receipt of a ‘modest stipend’, but that due to the circumstances of the case the payment would ‘obviously cease’.

The judge granted a ‘limited certificate’ for legal aid and said a ‘fully informed legal aid application’ could be made at the next hearing.

Fr Gallagher, who is originally from Derry and last year celebrated the 30th anniversary of his ordination, is currently a curate at the Clonleigh, Camus and Leckpatrick parishes.

He moved to the parishes last August, having previously been parish priest of Moville in Donegal.

From 2015 to 2022, Fr Gallagher was parish priest of the Greencastle and Badoney Lower Parish in Co Tyrone.

He has also served in a number of other parishes in the Derry Diocese, including Limavady, Cappagh, Long Tower and Holy Family.