Priest in Northern Ireland pleads guilty to 109 sex offenses

Edward Gallagher, a 59-year-old priest from the Diocese of Derry, pleaded guilty to 109 sex offenses at Londonderry Crown Court on October 5. The charges involve crimes committed between June 22, 2023, and April 18, 2025, including 43 counts of attempted sexual communication with a child under 16, 43 counts of attempting to encourage male children to distribute indecent images, five counts of attempting to incite male children to engage in sexual activity, 13 counts of possessing indecent images of a male child, and one count of possessing an extreme pornographic image.

Bishop Michael Router said he is petitioning the Holy See to present the case directly to the Pope with a recommendation that Gallagher be immediately dismissed from the clerical state. The bishop stated that such conduct is a radical betrayal of trust and is incompatible with the responsibilities of the priesthood.

Gallagher remains in custody following his arrest in the Waterside area of Derry in April 2025. Sentencing is scheduled for December 9 via videoconference.