Former Arctic Priest Accused of Sex Abuse Denies Charges against Him

GlobalPost
January 21, 2014

http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/the-canadian-press/140121/former-arctic-priest-accused-sex-abuse-testifies-own-defence

A former priest accused of sexually abusing dozens of Inuit children in a remote Arctic community has denied all charges against him.

Eric Dejaeger is testifying in his own defence in a courtroom in Iqaluit, Nunavut.

With the exception of eight counts he pleaded guilty to as the trial began, Dejaeger says he committed none of the horrific assaults he's accused of from his time in Igloolik.

That's where he was posted as an Oblate missionary between 1978 and 1982.

Dejaeger is questioning the memories of the long line of Crown witnesses who testified against him.

He says he had good relationships with people in the community, even though he could barely speak the Inuit language.

Dejaeger's testimony is expected to continue for the rest of the day and into Wednesday.