CANADA
CBC News
In Igloolik, some of the victims of former priest Eric Dejaeger were relieved to hear his sentence, while others say it does not go far enough.
Dejaeger was sentenced Wednesday to 19 years in prison for 32 sex crimes. The crimes were committed three decades ago in Igloolik, mostly against children.
William Qamukaq, a community justice outreach worker in the community, says victims’ feelings are mixed.
“Some of them may feel that the sentence was too light, some of them may have felt it was too short, but of course it’s a relief for them to know how many years he has.”
After charges were laid in Igloolik in 1995, Dejaeger fled to his native Belgium.
Lieve Halsberghe, a human rights activist in Belgium, campaigned to have Dejaeger returned to Canada to face the charges.
“Five years ago we never thought this was possible. I was afraid I would hurt people in Canada, in Nunavut especially, by stirring up this old story,” she said.
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