A priest has pleaded guilty at court in Northern Ireland to 109 sexual offences relating to the online abuse of boys.

Edward Gallagher from Lifford in County Donegal admitted the offences at Londonderry Crown Court. The offences took place between June 2023 and April 2025.

The 59 year old will remain in custody until he’s sentenced on 9 December.

The offences include 43 of attempting to sexually communicate with boys, 13 charges of possessing indecent images of children and 43 of attempting to encourage boys to distribute or show indecent images of photographs of children.

Other offences include one charge of possessing an extreme pornographic image and one charge of an adult attempting to engage in a sexual act in the presence of a male child for the purpose of sexual gratification.

After his arrest, Gallagher was suspended from priestly ministry, but he remains ordained.

In a statement, Rt Rev Michael Router, Bishop of Derry said the church has “a responsibility to respond truthfully, justly and decisively" and he was seeking permission from the Vatican to dismiss him immediately from the priesthood. He added that his thoughts were with those affected by the case, "particularly the children who have suffered harm and those who continue to live with the consequences of abuse and exploitation".

Gallagher most recently served in the Clonleigh, Camus and Leckpatrick parishes in County Derry.