Brian Gallagher speaks publicly for first time since remains of daughter identified

One chapter in the Megan Gallagher story is over, but there’s a lot more to the story.

That was the message from Gallagher’s father Brian as he spoke with reporters Monday afternoon outside of Saskatoon Provincial Court.

One of the nine people accused in Megan Gallagher’s death, Ernest Vernon Whitehead, made his second court appearance Monday, charged with one count of offering an indignity to human remains. Brian Gallagher, along with several supporters, were in attendance.

Megan Gallagher, 30, was last seen on video surveillance footage at a corner store on Diefenbaker Drive in Saskatoon in September of 2020. In January of 2021, police announced they were treating the investigation of her disappearance as a murder.

On Nov. 9, Saskatoon police announced that remains recovered near St. Louis in the South Saskatchewan River were those of the missing woman.

Brian Gallagher became emotional Monday as he described what he’d learned about his daughter’s death through the court process so far.

“A number of people may have unlawfully confined Megan, assaulted her, murdered her and disposed of her by throwing her over a bridge to cover up what they had done,” he said.

Gallagher added it all has created a disturbing picture in his own mind.

“When I close my eyes … what I often see is our beloved Megan being restrained by at least four people,” he said. “In my vision, she is being beaten. Her face is swollen and bloody. She is crying and begging, ‘Please just let me go’ … until she took her last breath. That’s the image I created in my mind when I hear about the charges.”

He said he hoped if that’s what happened, those responsible understand how “despicable and cowardly” that may have been.

“Megan was not this image. Megan liked to see people happy,” Gallagher continued. “Megan liked to see people happy. She always made children smile and laugh. She teased you until you felt better. She loved cooking.”

At this point, Gallagher said there had been no concrete plans made for a memorial service, but they would be made in the near future.

The next chapter for the family, he said, was the justice system.

“For us, we’re not going to stop. There are too many families … that are suffering,” he said.

Gallagher thanked the Saskatoon police, victims services, search teams, those who sent in tips, supporters and the media for their help over the past two years.

— With files from 650 CKOM’s Mia Holowaychuk