A priest has pleaded guilty to 109 sex offences at Londonderry Crown Court.
Edward Gallagher, 59, whose address is Maghaberry Prison, will be sentenced in December for offences between 22 June 2023 and 18 April 2025.
They include among others attempted sexual communication with a child under 16, having indecent images of a child, possessing an extreme pornographic image and attempting to encourage a child to engage in sexual activity.
The Catholic Bishop of Derry Michael Router confirmed that he would ask the Vatican to dismiss Gallagher from the priesthood.
When the charges were put to him Gallagher pleaded guilty to them all.
Defence counsel Stephen Mooney said that a pre-sentence report was needed and that “the facts are what they are”.
Gallagher remains in custody pending sentencing on 9 December.
