Truth Proof Report 303 ~ ghost haunts capers

Portaferry, Northern Ireland ~ 1988

Hi Paul

Just thought I'd give you another interesting story from the Nugent's estate in Portaferry.

This one happened in the late 80s, 88/89. Me and a friend decided to have a night camping out at a fishing spot on the estate called Ballyherly. We set up our tent about 100 yards from the lake and got a fire going.

It was late in the year, possibly October, so we knew it would get chilly. After a few hours unsuccessful fishing we returned to the fire to cook some grub and have a few tins of beer. It was an amazingly bright night, with a full moon and not a cloud in the sky, absolutely stunning. We had our tent pitched about 5 yards from the fire with the front flaps pulled back so the heat went straight into it.

It was an old 2 man tent with the traditional shape. After a while sitting around the fire we got into the tent, keeping the front flaps open so we could just lie and look at the fire, yarning away to each other.

Suddenly I saw my mate look behind me at the side wall of the tent. I turned around and there was a large bulge pressing into the tent around ground level. Then slowly it started to move towards the front of the tent, where the front flaps were still open. Looking at the size and shape I assumed it was a badger or possibly a fox. We lay transfixed watching as it moved towards the front of the tent waiting for it to pop its head into view.

But nothing appeared and we jumped out. Absolutely nothing. We both stood and scanned all around us. Just an empty brightly lit field.

There was a wood both sides of the field but it was at least 100 yards away and we would have heard or seen something. As I said it was a glorious full moon and our fire lit up everything as well. Eventually we just looked at each other, shook our heads and got back in the tent. Almost immediately, above our heads there appeared an indentation on the sloped part of the tent. It looked like someone was pushing a finger into the tent with force, and once again it slowly started moving towards the front of the tent which had the front flaps still pulled back.

We both looked at each other and pulled out our fishing knives. As it neared the front we both leapt out with knives drawn. Nothing. No person, No animal, just a perfectly still peaceful field. That was it.

We quickly packed away our gear and took to our heels. I can honestly say I've rarely felt so scared. There was an old stone stile to exit the field onto a road but it was to far away so I literally jumped through a thorn hedge to get out of the field quicker. I pulled myself through it and when I got home my dad spent about an hour extracting thorns from my hands.

As I said in my previous story the estate is well known for paranormal activity of all types, but what this was I have absolutely no idea. Apparently part of the field we were in was used as a grave pit for an epidemic hundreds of years ago. I'm unsure if it was Cholera or Smallpox or something similar. Anyhow I never camped there again although I've walked through the field many times after, and it's just your average field.

Many thanks for hearing my story. I thought I'd relay it after watching you and the Bobster on your camping adventure.

Yours Faithfully,

Trevor

Paul: Wow - a very atmospheric report. I don't blame you leaping through a hedge.

​Martin