Derry Magistrate's Court has been told that the case against a priest facing sex offences involves some 650 pages of communications that police have to examine.
Edward Gallagher (58) of Orchard Park in Lifford, County Donegal had been charged with one count of attempted sexual communication with a child on dates between April 2 and April 17 2025.
Gallagher has also been charged with seven further offences, including inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and causing a child to watch sexual activity on April 17 last year, as well as charges of possessing indecent images of children.
At a hearing before Derry Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, a prosecutor told the court that the investigating officer was going through all the communications.
Following on from this the investigating officer is then expected to attend the cyber unit to cross reference the material.
This then would allow files to be prepared for the Public Prosecution Service, the court was told.
The prosecutor added that there were 650 pages of communications to be gone through.
Defence solicitor Derwin Harvey said that there had been 'some slippage' since a comprehensive update had been given in early December.
He said that a date had been given for the file to be submitted for February 5, and asked for the investigating officer to attend on that date to give an update to try and avoid any further slippage.
The case was adjourned until February 5 and Mr Harvey asked that the defendant should be produced on that date.
Gallagher remains in custody.