In late 2009, a young family moved into a three-bedroom council house at Hollywood Estate in Hollyhill, on Cork’s northside.

By December of that year, they claimed something in the house had changed. The couple, who had a four-year-old son, reported a series of escalating disturbances between December 2009 and March 2010.

At first, small items were said to move or fall without explanation. Holy pictures were reportedly knocked from the walls. Furniture and furnishings were discovered rearranged in rooms that had been left empty. The family told media outlets that taps would turn on by themselves and sinks would overflow. They described strange cold spots, pungent odours and what they called “dark masses” within the house.

Neighbours later reported hearing screams coming from inside the property – even at times when the house was said to be empty.

The most alarming claim involved their son. According to Laura, Kyle was flung from his bed by an unseen force. He also reportedly told his parents he could see “eyes” watching him in his bedroom. The family said they saw “glowing orbs” hovering in mid-air in certain rooms.

“It’s an evil spirit,” Laura told the Sunday Independent. “Whatever it is, I don’t believe it means us well.”

In March 2010, a cleansing ritual was performed at the property. Clairvoyant John O’Reilly stated he felt “a presence” and described sensing a younger man who may have taken his own life. Spiritualist and shaman Paul O’Halloran also visited the house, later claiming he believed multiple spirits were present – including what he described as energies connected to famine-era children and unmarked graves in Cork.

Special prayers were said in an effort to placate whatever was believed to be in the house.

The story drew widespread attention. Hundreds of curious onlookers reportedly gathered outside when the haunting claims first hit the headlines in February and March 2010. Local children even held an informal vigil, watching for signs of paranormal activity. After several hours, they reported seeing nothing unusual – one local girl later remarking that a dog had fallen asleep on the doorstep, adding pointedly that animals are often said to sense spirits first.

Cork City Council stated they had no way of verifying the claims and would not provide alternative housing on the basis of alleged paranormal activity. However, they offered to refurbish and repair the property and warned that, because the house had been left unoccupied for months, they were within their rights to repossess it if the family refused to return.

The couple continued paying rent but declined to move back in, instead staying with relatives. The house remained effectively empty for an extended period.

No official investigation concluded that paranormal forces were at work.