WATCH: 1985 TV report of the Longford family who fled a haunted house

A fascinating piece of Longford history has resurfaced online in an RTÉ News report from March 14, 1985, which documents the extraordinary circumstances surrounding the Courtney family from Ballymahon, who abandoned their home in St Matthew’s Terrace, believing it to be haunted.

Speaking to reporter Paul Blanchfield, Patrick and Mary Courtney recalled how the strange noises and activity became so intolerable, they voluntarily left the house and moved into a caravan with no running water and electricity. The caravan, they said, had been loaned to them by Mary’s brother.

The Courtneys’ explained they were unable to secure help from the church and Longford County Council.

Said reporter, Mr Blanchfield, in a voiceover, “They’ve been living without a toilet or running water for more than four months but for the Courtneys’, an old four berth caravan is heaven compared to the hell they suffered in their council house.”

The Courtneys’ had lived in the house since it was first built in 1974, paying a weekly rent of £12. They said the supernatural activity began shortly after they moved in.

Activity reportedly occurring within the house included incessant noises, and lights going on and off.

Mary recalled hearing “cracking in the ceiling” and “heavy flapping, like an animal in chains.”

The Courtneys’ son Patrick Jnr was also interviewed, recalling how the activity left him frightened and included “knocking on doors”, and “pounding and tramping of feet”.

Speaking on camera for the report were the Courtneys’ former neighbours who supported their claims that something unusual was happening inside the property.

One lady said she would not enter the house such was the nature of the unexplained activity taking place there, while another stating she wouldn’t live in the house even if she “got it for nothing.”

Parish Priest Fr Bland, whom the Courtneys’ claimed had not helped when they approached him about the “unbearable pounding noise”, refused to be interviewed for the RTÉ report.

Patrick (Snr) said Fr Bland had simply instructed them to place a bag of sand outside the back door of the house and not to step or walk on it.

Mary recalled the church also telling them the activity was “not of harm to them” but she explained it was getting the better of her mind and that she couldn’t stick the noise any longer, at which point the decision was made to move out.

Longford County Council manager Michael Killeen spoke about the matter on camera, stating the Courtneys’ were not eligible for re-housing as they had left their council house voluntarily.

He said the council would not provide the family with a caravan, citing the suggestion as a “retrograde step” given the council’s endeavour to supply tenants with permanent housing.

Revealing that another family was due to move into the property in the days that followed, the report concluded with the Courtneys’ saying they would never again go through what they endured in their former house in St Matthews Terrace.

It is believed the Courtneys’ subsequently relocated to Keenagh.