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Priest to face dozens of new abuse charges in Nunavut

The Canadian Press Published Tuesday, May 8, 2012 1:29PM EDT

Catholic priest Eric Dejaeger is escorted by police outside an Iqaluit, Nunavut courtroom Jan. 20, 2011 after his first appearance for six child sexual abuse charges in Igloolik dating back to the 1970s. (Chris Windeyer / THE CANADIAN PRESS)

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IQALUIT, Nunavut - An accused priest already convicted of sex abuse against Inuit children will face dozens of fresh charges in court next Monday.

Prosecutors in Iqaluit, Nunavut, say Eric Dejaeger will now face a total of 74 charges in a case that just keeps growing.

Dejaeger originally faced 28 charges when he was returned from Belgium last spring.

He will now face 74 charges of abuse and assault against girls, boys and dogs, and the total is expected to grow larger before the case comes to trial.

Crown Paul Bychok says prosecutors are now going through hundreds of pages of disclosures from people in Igloolik, Nunavut, where he served in the late '70s and early '80s.

Dejaeger has previously pleaded guilty to nine counts of abuse from his time in Baker Lake, Nunavut.

He has waived his right to a preliminary hearing and the trial is expected to take place in 2013.