Back-up needed as blessing fails to stop ‘hauntings’
Vicky Dann says a blessing from minister Keith Mack only seemed to worsen spooky goings-on in her flat.
A CHURCH of Scotland minister has been called in to help a family who have become too terrified to stay in their “haunted” flat.
Mother-of-two Vicky Dann told the Evening News how she had been left at her wits’ end by the spooky goings-on in their Dalkeith home which had left her daughters Jenna, 18, and Emma, 11, petrified.
The stay-at-home mum claims strange shapes appear from nowhere in photographs she takes, while her children regularly see ghostly figures.
In desperation she contacted Reverend Keith Mack, Church of Scotland minister at St John’s and King’s Park Church, who blessed the flat a fortnight ago.
After that seemed to worsen matters, he has now pledged to try again – with more ministers.
He said: “Sometimes this kind of thing comes up and we have blessed a few houses, and it seems to have done the trick.
“However, it doesn’t seem to have worked fully here, it seems to have got worse.
“I will speak to a few other ministers and see what they would do.”
Jenna now refuses to be left alone in the family home while Emma has been having nightmares for the last month.
Miss Dann said if the situation doesn’t improve, she may have to consider leaving her Castle Rock Edinvar home in Newton Village, where she has lived for the last decade.
The 40-year-old said the unusual activity started around two years ago but has intensified over the last two months.
“Emma swears that she sees a man with boots on, in a black suit and a cap coming through our door and disappearing down the hall,” she said.
“Jenna said she sees a woman with blonde hair and a white nightie standing in the hall.”
She added: “Every time we take pictures in the house we either get orbs or people we don’t know in them.”
Miss Dann said she had contacted Historic Scotland in the hope that it could provide information on the surrounding area or any accidents that have taken place.
She also got in touch with Midlothian Council and said the local authority passed on Rev Mack’s contact details.
Ms Dann said she had taken between 50 and 100 photographs in the flat, which she claimed showed unexplained orbs, figures or faces.
“You feel like you’re going mad,” she said. “It’s a weird thing to say but sometimes you can sense that somebody is watching you. If I get a sense that someone’s watching me, I take a picture on my mobile.”
She hopes a second blessing will help but failing that she said the family may have to consider leaving their home.
“I don’t want to move, but if we don’t get rid of them, I think we will have to move.”
A spokesman for Castle Rock Edinvar said: “Ms Dann has asked for our help in providing information on the history of the area. We will work together with her to find the best solution to this situation.”
A Midlothian Council spokesman added: “We received a public inquiry about the history of a specific area and – as per normal practice – responded.”
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Comments
There are 61 comments to this article
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jennadann
Monday, January 30, 2012 at 12:08 PMI understand what you are saying but it doesn't just happen at night. We experience hearing people running down our hall being sick and yet there's no-one there? And all sorts. And when I've heard someone coming into my room, my tv was on and i was on the phone. None of this can be sleep paralysis.
Alex.
Sunday, January 29, 2012 at 11:32 AMAre "orbs" not just a reflection of the flash?
steve660
Saturday, January 28, 2012 at 04:17 PMjennadann 58: EVERYONE experiences sleep paralysis, except sleep walkers! Your description of a presence at night on your bed is almost a textbook description of a hypnopompic hallucination, or waking dream. Extremely common, very realistic, and decidedly scary. I know, I've experienced it too, along with a large percentage of the population. Centuries ago it was known as the "old hag" experience, or attributed to incubi, succubi or demons. Nowadays it probably account for most "ghosts". Please do NOT waste time with any more clerical ju-ju men. And do NOT go near spiritualists - a bunch of frauds and charlatans. The people who can help are the very ones who are not mentioned in any of the reports I have seen - sceptics. This is all old hat to them. Try http:www.edinburghskeptics.co.uk They are the ones who are are familiar with the tricks the mind can play, or cameras for that matter.
jennadann
Saturday, January 28, 2012 at 01:08 PMThanks but im not suffering from sleep paralysis. I just wish people would believe us, no-one understands!! We don't want to move, we just want someone to get rid of them.
steve660
Saturday, January 28, 2012 at 10:12 AMJennaDann 21 “Try going to bed at night and having someone something coming into your room and sitting on your bed heavy breathing but there's actually nothing to be seen?” Jenna, if you’re reading this, what you describe has a very familiar feel to it. I had a similar, absolutely terrifying, experience when I was 15. But there is a mundane explanation. Before I say what it is I need more information from you please. Do these experiences normally happen at night, when you are in bed? Or can they be at any time of day? If at night in bed (as implied by your description) then, when the phenomenon occurs, do you find you are paralysed, or have a sensation that something is pressing down on you, and preventing you from moving?
steve660
Saturday, January 28, 2012 at 10:03 AMThere’s a shocking lack of scepticism in any of the reports I’ve seen on this story. Everything that has been reported is standard fare for psychologists and sceptics who have heard many similar stories before. Like “orbs”. A trivial photographic effect with simple, mundane explanations – particles of dirt on the lens, etc. Wikipedia has a straightforward article on them. When I get orbs on a photo I wipe the lens and the next photo doesn’t have them. The few photos presently published are unconvincing. There are four on deadlinenews.co.uk. All hopelessly blurry and open to subjective interpretation. Again I suspect that quirks of photography, coupled to the brain’s tendency to see patterns (especially faces) where there are none, is all that’s going on here.
Major Attraction
Saturday, January 28, 2012 at 09:52 AMIf she is moving out ? - send for ham n' egg.
Major Attraction
Saturday, January 28, 2012 at 09:50 AMI seen it for myself - hundreds of small men about six inches tall - running up and down the walls - hailey ones and bauld ones.
The Genuine Mario Antionette
Saturday, January 28, 2012 at 03:21 AM#29 - "You have to get in touch with a Spiritualist who is specially trained" - anybody can be a "spiritualist" - no "training" needed. A gullible, willing audience helps though - just ask Derek Acorah & his ilk.
The Genuine Mario Antionette
Saturday, January 28, 2012 at 03:12 AM#32 - "Does anyone else find this all a bit stupid ? - Yes, 'cos your not Genuine.
The Genuine Mario Antionette
Saturday, January 28, 2012 at 03:05 AM#13 - "This may sound silly" - that's because it is...
South Wales Scot
Saturday, January 28, 2012 at 01:24 AMHow come she can see ghosts and ghouls but she can't see that horrible orange wallpaper?
Tartancult
Friday, January 27, 2012 at 11:35 PMAs soon as I see the hundreds of photographs they have, I will be convinced.
Major Attraction
Friday, January 27, 2012 at 10:49 PMSend for "susan boyle" .......
Major Attraction
Friday, January 27, 2012 at 10:23 PMThis is getting so hhhhhaaaaiiiiiiillllleeeeeyyyyyyyyy
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