“Eric Dejaeger, former priest, sentenced to 19 years for child sex abuse” & related article

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67-year-old found guilty of 32 counts of child sex abuse gets 8 years for time served

Posted: Feb 04, 2015 5:00 AM CT Last Updated: Feb 04, 2015 12:55 PM CT

Eric Dejaeger leaves the Iqaluit courthouse in 2011. The former priest, who was convicted last year of 32 counts of child sexual abuse, is scheduled to be sentenced Wednesday.

Eric Dejaeger leaves the Iqaluit courthouse in 2011. The former priest, who was convicted last year of 32 counts of child sexual abuse, is scheduled to be sentenced Wednesday. (Chris Windeyer/The Canadian Press)

A former priest found guilty of sexually abusing children in Igloolik, Nunavut, 30 years ago has been sentenced to 19 years in prison.

Eric Dejaeger, 67, was found guilty last year of 32 counts of child sexual abuse dating back to his time as a priest in between 1978 and 1982.

“Your selfishness has devastated a generation of young Roman Catholic parishioners in Igloolik,” Justice Robert Kilpatrick wrote in his sentencing decision.

“Many lives have been irrevocably altered by your dark legacy. For many victims, the commission of your offence has marked the end of living and the beginning of their survival. You must now atone for the many wrongs that you have inflicted on others. This sentence is only the beginning of that atonement.”

The Crown had asked for a sentence of 25 years in prison, while the defence suggested 12 years.

Both lawyers suggested that the accused be credited two days for every day spent in pretrial custody.

Kilpatrick agreed, crediting Dejaeger eight years for his time spent in remand. He has 11 years left to serve on the sentence.

Dejaeger has been in custody since January 2011 following his arrest on immigration charges in his home country of Belgium.

It was discovered his citizenship there was no longer valid. Dejaeger was then returned to Canada to face charges laid in 1995.

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Dejaeger has been in custody since January 2011 after arrest on immigration charges in Belgium

CBC News Posted: Feb 04, 2015 5:00 AM CT Last Updated: Feb 04, 2015 12:21 PM CT

Eric Dejaeger leaves the Iqaluit courthouse in 2011. The former priest, who was convicted last year of 32 counts of child sexual abuse, is scheduled to be sentenced Wednesday.

Eric Dejaeger leaves the Iqaluit courthouse in 2011. The former priest, who was convicted last year of 32 counts of child sexual abuse, is scheduled to be sentenced Wednesday. (Chris Windeyer/The Canadian Press)

A former priest found guilty of sexually abusing children in Igloolik, Nunavut, 30 years ago will learn his sentence today.

Eric Dejaeger was found guilty last year of 32 counts of child sexual abuse dating back to his time as a priest in between 1978 and 1982.

The Crown has asked for a sentence of 25 years in prison, while the defence has suggested 12 years.

Both lawyers have suggested that the accused be credited two days for every day spent in pretrial custody.

Dejaeger has been in custody since January 2011 following his arrest on immigration charges in his home country of Belgium.

It was discovered his citizenship there was no longer valid. Dejaeger was then returned to Canada to face charges laid in 1995.

Nunavut Justice Robert Kilpatrick is scheduled to release his written sentence at 1:30 p.m. ET.

Hard copies will be available at the library or court registry in Iqaluit.

Dejaeger’s next court appearance is scheduled for March 3.