In June 1989, a property on Beechmount Grove in Belfast became the scene of a high profile and sometimes violent haunting.

It is said that John and Greta Skillen were residing at number 91 with their five children, aged from five to fifteen. The family began to see the ghost of a woman in a Victorian style black dress in their home. They also reported doors opening and closing of their own volition, furniture being moved by an unseen force and unexplained banging sounds. More alarmingly, it was alleged that John became the victim of several assaults by an invisible assailant. He claimed to have been pushed by the angry spirit and even thrown over the bannisters.

The case drew the attention of local and national media, and several attempts were made to bring peace to the property. But the religious artifacts that were placed around the home only seemed to anger “the woman in black”. A Mass was offered in the family home, and the celebrant reportedly referenced the sensation that there was a hostile entity present throughout. Rather than ease the situation, the activity intensified and neighbours began to experience terrifying paranormal phenomena in their own homes too. Eventually, the Skillen family surrendered and left the property.

Research failed to identify any root cause for the haunting, and no figures could be connected to the house or the land it was built on. While Belfast was the scene of much political turbulence at that time, no explanation was ever offered as to why this family, and particularly John, were targeted in their home. Some claimed that the family made up the whole story in an attempt to get a bigger house, but the property was in fact one of the largest on the estate and the family had previously lived there without any issue.

I have seen references to a few subsequent tenants “leaving” the property after only a short time but information on the case is limited. The estate was raised to the ground in the early 2000s and more modern residential units now stand on the site.