Army calls priest to pray for Nelly in Glen of Imaal's `haunted' house

The Army yesterday called in a priest to conduct a prayer service at a house which local people in Co Wicklow believe is haunted. Coolmoney House, at the Glen of Imaal camp, built in 1837, is owned by the Army and is due to be demolished within two weeks.

Ms Yvonne Croke, daughter of the officer in command of the camp, Comdt Kevin Croke, claimed she has seen the figure of a young girl in the house over recent weeks. Ms Croke (22), a riding instructor, has had previous psychic experiences.

Local people say Nelly was a servant girl in the Hutchinson family house in the last century and was made pregnant by one of the local gentry.

To avoid scandal he murdered her and threw the body from an upstairs window. Some say Nelly has been wandering the house since.

At about 5.20 p.m. on February 7th Ms Croke was going to feed her grey mare, Philippa, when she thought she saw a girl at the house. Returning later she saw the same "slim figure" in a front window. At the time she knew nothing of the house's history.

On Wednesday, she returned with her father. As they drove past she again saw the girl. Her father then asked army chaplain Father Declan Foley to perform a prayer service.

Yesterday Ms Croke claimed she saw Nelly twice - before the service and on a window-sill in the drawing-room behind Father Foley as he conducted prayers. She described Nelly as a slim, young, pretty woman of about 15 or 16, who is 5 ft 6 in or 5 ft 7 in, wore a plain white dress with a black belt and had shoulder-length black scraggly hair which was not kept very well. She had a faded appearance and looked like "a see-through person".

On this last occasion Ms Croke said Nelly's expression was happier. The anxious look she said she saw there on previous occasions had gone. From this she concluded the ghost is at peace. Nelly disappeared as Father Foley left the room, she said.

A large mark on the small top-room floor, still visible yesterday, is believed by local people to be a bloodstain. Attempts to remove it have failed, they say, and when floorboards have been replaced the stain has reappeared on the new wood. Private Martin Moore said yesterday that when he first arrived at the camp in 1976 he tried many times to remove the stain, not knowing what it was. He was unaware of the history of the house. The stain always returned.

Coolmoney House was used until 1990 to accommodate Army officers. Private Moore said he had never known anyone to stay in Room 21a where Nelly is said to have died. A local story that soldiers would not do sentry duty at the house because it was haunted was not true, he said. There had just never been a sentry there.

Yesterday's blessing was conducted in Coolmoney House's magnificent, derelict drawingroom before about 40 local people. Father Foley commended those who had lived in the house to God's love and care. He asked God "to give peace to Nelly and to all those who have experienced pain and suffering in this house". He sprinkled every room with holy water and blessed the grounds outside.

Over tea and biscuits in an Army billet afterwards, a local woman said "everyone is at peace now".