A barrister has told Derry Magistrate's Court that any attempt to change the date for a Preliminary Enquiry in relation to a priest facing sex offences would be opposed.
Edward Gallagher (58) of Orchard Park in Lifford had been charged with one count of attempted sexual communication with a child on dates between April 2 and April 17 2025 and seven further offences, including inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and causing a child to watch sexual activity on April 17 this year as well as charges of possessing indecent images of children.
The hearing was told a date for a Preliminary Enquiry had been fixed for July 16. A prosecutor said that the case was in today simply for a review but he asked for another review as there were “some outstanding items.”
Defence counsel Stephen Mooney said that this was a “long-standing case” and added that any attempt to miss the Preliminary Enquiry date would be opposed. A further review was ordered for July 2.