Jail house shock
Angie Freeland at the jail with her husband Keith
Friday October 16 2009
RESTLESS spirits are lifting and moving furniture during night-time paranormal tours of a jail where 1798 rebels were held.
Psychic Angie Freeland said she was nearly forced down the stairs during one trip to Wicklow's Historic Gaol. Up to 30 visitors taking part in a paranormal tour were also said to be shocked by their ordeal and had to call staff for help.
Ms Freeland claims on five occasions spirits moved furniture during one of her monthly paranormal tours, which she runs with her husband. "The phenomena go on and on and we have only held public events for two months so far," added Ms Freeland.
Built in the early 1700s, the earliest recorded prisoner was Fr Owen Mc Fee, a 72-year-old priest convicted of saying Mass.
Many of the 1798 rebels were also locked up there and were hanged in or near the jail.
Hugh Vesty Byrne, a first cousin of the Wicklow Chieftain Michael Dwyer, was one of the few prisoners ever to have escaped from the jail.
The facility closed in 1900 but reopened less than 20 years later to house members of the Irish Republican Brotherhood and Sinn Fein. It finally closed for good in 1924.
The psychic couple said they were overwhelmed by the activity since starting the paranormal visits.
They claim that on August 28 a former warder called Jack was so angry he growled at the group and threw stones at them.
The following night the spirit of a young boy, Robert, is said to have playfully rocked the table in front of half a dozen people.
But on the third night the same table was rocked violently and a second table was moved 12 feet, forcing Angie down stairs.
Ghosthunters International previously shot a television programme from the tourist attraction, claiming it was one of the most of the most haunted locations in Ireland.
