A Catholic priest who was facing multiple allegations of sexual assault against children in Nunavut has passed away, according to the Archdiocese of Ottawa-Cornwall.
Father Eric Dejaeger, who was 74 years old, died on Saturday at a hospital in Belgium, where he had been living since 2011.
Dejaeger was originally from Belgium but had been serving as a priest in Canada since 1978. He was first assigned to the Catholic mission in Igloolik, Nunavut in 1978 and later moved to Baker Lake, Nunavut in 1982.
In 1995, Dejaeger was charged with 10 counts of sexual assault and indecent assault against children in Igloolik. He was convicted on eight of those charges and sentenced to five years in prison.
However, in 2011, more allegations surfaced against Dejaeger, this time from Baker Lake. He was charged with 76 counts of sexual assault, indecent assault, and gross indecency against children. He was also charged with one count of bestiality.
Dejaeger was extradited to Canada from Belgium in 2011 and was released on bail. He was awaiting trial when he passed away.
The Archdiocese of Ottawa-Cornwall released a statement expressing their condolences to the victims and their families.
“We are deeply saddened by the passing of Father Dejaeger and our thoughts and prayers are with all those who have been affected by his actions,” the statement read.
The Archdiocese also stated that they had been cooperating with authorities throughout the legal process and would continue to do so.
The news of Dejaeger’s death has brought mixed reactions from the community. Some are relieved that he will not be able to harm anyone else, while others are disappointed that he will not face justice for his alleged crimes.
The trial against Dejaeger was set to begin in March 2021. It is unclear how his death will affect the legal proceedings.
The Archdiocese has not released any further information about Dejaeger’s death, citing privacy concerns.
The Catholic Church has been under scrutiny for its handling of sexual abuse cases involving priests. The death of Dejaeger serves as a reminder of the devastating impact of these crimes on victims and their communities.
