Islandmagee witch trial
Encyclopedia
The Islandmagee witch trial took place in 1710-1711 on Islandmagee
in what is today Northern Ireland
. It is believed to have been the last witch trial
to take place in Ireland.
The trial was caused by a phenomenon of poltergeist
s and possession in the house of a Mrs Haltridge. In 1710, Mrs Haltridge had been affected by poltergeists. She had been unable to get any sleep, clothes had been thrown around the house, and a boy had shown himself to her, and vanished. One night, she was heard screaming that she was being attacked with a knife, and was later found dead. In 1711, Mrs Haltridge the Younger, daughter-in-law of the deceased Mrs Haltridge, was visited by one Mary Dunbar. Dunbar was also tormented by the poltergeists, an apron with "witches' knots" was found, and Dunbar claimed to be attacked by women in her bed. She named the women, and eight women were arrested and put on trial for having caused the phenomena with witchcraft. They were found guilty of witchcraft and condemned to one year imprisonment and four times pillory
ing.
Records of what happened to Mary Dunbar or those convicted of witchcraft may have been lost when the Public Records Office in question was burned down during the Irish Civil War
.
Islandmagee
Islandmagee is a peninsula on the east coast of County Antrim, Northern Ireland, located between the towns of Larne and Carrickfergus. It is part of the Larne Borough Council area and is a sparsely populated rural community with a long history since the mesolithic period.As part of an...
in what is today Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
. It is believed to have been the last witch trial
Witch trial
A witch trial is a legal proceeding that is part of a witch-hunt. * Witch trials in Early Modern Europe, 15th–18th centuries** Salzburg witch trials - 1675-1690, Salzburg, Austria** Spa witch trial - 1616, Belgium...
to take place in Ireland.
The trial was caused by a phenomenon of poltergeist
Poltergeist
A poltergeist is a paranormal phenomenon which consists of events alluding to the manifestation of an imperceptible entity. Such manifestation typically includes inanimate objects moving or being thrown about, sentient noises and, on some occasions, physical attacks on those witnessing the...
s and possession in the house of a Mrs Haltridge. In 1710, Mrs Haltridge had been affected by poltergeists. She had been unable to get any sleep, clothes had been thrown around the house, and a boy had shown himself to her, and vanished. One night, she was heard screaming that she was being attacked with a knife, and was later found dead. In 1711, Mrs Haltridge the Younger, daughter-in-law of the deceased Mrs Haltridge, was visited by one Mary Dunbar. Dunbar was also tormented by the poltergeists, an apron with "witches' knots" was found, and Dunbar claimed to be attacked by women in her bed. She named the women, and eight women were arrested and put on trial for having caused the phenomena with witchcraft. They were found guilty of witchcraft and condemned to one year imprisonment and four times pillory
Pillory
The pillory was a device made of a wooden or metal framework erected on a post, with holes for securing the head and hands, formerly used for punishment by public humiliation and often further physical abuse, sometimes lethal...
ing.
Records of what happened to Mary Dunbar or those convicted of witchcraft may have been lost when the Public Records Office in question was burned down during the Irish Civil War
Irish Civil War
The Irish Civil War was a conflict that accompanied the establishment of the Irish Free State as an entity independent from the United Kingdom within the British Empire....
.