A school classroom. (Matt Cardy/Getty Images)

A Catholic priest in Northern Ireland is under investigation after accidentally displaying a series of gay porn images to parents at a primary school meeting.

Father Martin McVeigh said he had no knowledge of the gay pictures that were displayed instead of the Powerpoint instructions on Holy Communion he had been intending to project.

The 26 parents of pupils St Mary’s School in Pomeroy, Co Tyrone who attended the meeting last week said the priest had inserted a memory stick into a computer linked up to the school projector system but rather than Eucharistic guidance for children, they witnessed graphic images of men.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland said there was no immediate evidence a crime had taken place.

A statement issued by the parents present said Father McVeigh was “visibly shaken and flustered” after the Powerpoint presentation went awry.

It continued: “He gave no explanation or apology to the group and bolted out of the room. The co-ordinator and the teachers then continued with the presentation.

“The meeting continued in his absence, however, the parents who viewed the pictures were horrified and distracted.

“Twenty minutes later he returned, he continued with the meeting and wrapped up by saying that the children get lots of money for their Holy Communion and should consider giving some of it to the church.”

Cardinal Seán Brady, head of the Catholic Church in Ireland, said: “Inappropriate imagery was inadvertently shown by a priest at the beginning of a Powerpoint presentation, causing concern to those present.

“This was immediately removed from the screen.

“The priest has stated that he had no knowledge of the offending imagery. The archdiocese immediately sought the advice of the PSNI who indicated that, on the basis of the evidence available, no crime had been committed.

“The priest is co-operating with an investigation of the matter on the part of the archdiocese.”

Fr McVeigh told the Ulster Herald: “I don’t know how it happened but I know what happened. There are people making innuendoes who weren’t even there but in this day and age these stories grow.”

He has added that the memory stick was owned by the parish and used by other people.

The statement on behalf of the parents added: “The questions that remain unanswered are the fact that Fr McVeigh is still saying Mass and has not been suspended pending an investigation. In any other responsible organisation this would have been the first action.

“The parents are enraged that Fr McVeigh has been entrusted with the pastoral care of their children however, he has given no explanation for why he left the room for 20 minutes after the incident or no apology to the offended child, parents or teachers.”

In February, Jazz FM apologised after its listeners were subjected to several “highly regrettable” minutes of the soundtrack to a gay porn film.