" You Are the Real Turkey"

By Sylvia
Sylvia's Site
December 3, 2013

http://www.theinquiry.ca/wordpress/2013/12/03/you-are-the-real-turkey/



What a beautiful spot!� I had always thought Iqaluit was flat and barren,� Not flat at all � it�s hilly and rocky � and today, windy, windy and oh so COLD.� Thankfully I bought a good pair of boots on Sunday � my toes are warm�

So, landed safe and sound � luggage put away and then myself and friend headed for the courthouse and arrived in time for the afternoon session.

And there he was.� Convicted Oblate clerical molester Father�Eric Dejaeger, sitting at the defence table.� Long straggly gray beard.� Balding.� Navy sweat shirt,� sweatpants�and canvas (?)�navy shoes.

I�m not sure what I expected, but,� there he was.� In flesh and blood.

The courtroom layout is quite different here in Nunavut.� I would love to take a picture to post for all to see, but, not allowed���� The witness stand faces�the judge � I am told that is because Inuit believe�that they look a person in the eye that person can not lie.� I was struck by that particular change in layout, and the reason for the change.

Father Eric Dejaeger barely took his eyes off the witnesses.� He stared intently, rarely ever breaking his gaze.� I spotted�him stroking his beard a couple of times, but most of the time he rested his chin on clasped hands, occasionally chewing at a thumb nail or fiddling with his fingers.

There was not testimony about dogs.� The court was told�that there was a black and white husky at the church.

There were two victims.� The first victim (I�ll call him Joe) �had a hearing impediment but with some auditory assistance testified in Inuktitut and I must say did a darn good job ( testimony was translated)�.

(1)��Victim #1

Joe testified that he was molested several times by Dejaeger.� He was molested several times when he was taken caribou hunting with his parents, and uncle and Father Dejaeger,� There were three tents pitched.� Dejaeger has a tent of his own,� According to Joe the most painful thing that ever happened to him was when Father Dejaeger molested him.� He described how Dejaeger played with his anus, looked in his anus, and then wet his fingers in his mouth and stuck them in the boy�s rectum.� That happened twice.� he recalled that Dejaeger had very cold hands.� It came to an end when he had a bowel movement.

When asked by the Crown how long did the abuse last, he replied that he had no idea �time was not very important to me then.�� It was said in the sense that that was the last thing he was thinking of at the time.

We also heard testimony that Dejaeger would masturbate Joe.�Joe described how Dejager wold pull his pants down to his knees.� These acts�came to an end when Joe pushed Dejaeger away.

The�priest told the boy not to tell, and warned that because�Dejaeger, was a priest and God�s helper no one would believe him.

There was an out-of court settlement.� According to Joe the lawyer, Steven Cooper, �told him he would receive $100,000:� he was given $17,000. Joe testified that he was told by the lawyer not� to discuss what happened with anyone.

We also heard that Joe told and RCMP officer in 1984 or 1985.� He was told that he shouldn�t say something like that about a priest.

During cross examination Joe began to get agitated, but he maintained his composure.

(2)��Victim #2

�The second victim I will call Jack.

According to Jack, in one move��one day Dejaeger grabbed him by the hand, put the other arm around his waist and�hand on his bottom and started to dance.� As he stood to describe how Dejaeger grabbed him he raised his voice� and said �this, from�a priest,�� At that he turned to Dejeager and admonished:� �Your were a hypocrite Eric.�

When Jack�s grandmother was told, she advised he not to go back

We heard that the children were at the�church everyday at 3:45 for religious�instruction, and that every Sunday evening there was a movie shown at the church (reel to reel).� For the latter, a�white sheet was hung behind the�altar to serve as a screen..�� Jack testified that he saw every movie, and, by way of explanation ��it was free�!

When he was told he was finished and free to go, Jack asked the judge if he could say a word or two.� Mr, Kempt was opposed.� The judge said go ahead,

And Jack�s message?

Jack turned to face Dejaeger (sitting to right).� In a clear measured voice, and eyes of Father�Dejaeger he told Dejaeger:

�You used call everyone a turkey,� I was a turkey to you.� All the boys were turkeys to you.� And you, you are the real turkey.

At that he turned and left the stand.

Enough for now,

Sylvia