Remembering the ‘Dolocher’

IN the late 18th century, Dublin was gripped by an unimaginable terror.

The story begins within the infamous

‘Black Dog Prison’ which once stood in the Liberties. It centres on a man named Olocher, who was convicted of the rape and murder of a young woman. Sentenced to death, Olocher cheated the hangman by taking his own life on the eve of his execution.

On the next night, strange events began to take place at

‘Black Dog Prison’. A sentry on guard was found beaten unconscious. When he woke, he reported that he had been attacked by a demonic black pig.

Over the next few days, several more Black Dog guards reported seeing a spectral pig roaming the prison.

With the stories of the recent suicide still fresh in their minds, rumours began that the demonic black pig was the spirit of the prisoner, Olocher. The story went, that after taking his own life, Olocher was transformed into the demon and now known as

‘The Dolocher’, he was seeking vengeance on those who would have executed him.

Guards at the Black Dog refused to man the post nearest to Cork Street, which seemed to be the hub of the

‘Dolocher’s’ activity.

One guard who refused to believe the wild tale volunteered for this duty. The next morning he had disappeared without trace, leaving behind his clothes and his gun.

This was enough for most to believe the story of the

‘Dolocher’, who had now escaped from Black Dog Prison.

The next day a woman appeared before the Dublin magistrates and swore she had been attacked by the

‘Dolocher’ in Christ Church Lane.

Several nights later, the beast struck again. A pregnant woman was attacked but escaped. The shock of the incident, however, led her to miscarry at home.

With the streets of Dublin fast becoming a no go area for women after dark, a team of men got together and swore they would slaughter every black pig in Dublin. Leaving a tavern in Cook Street one night, armed with knives and clubs, they slaughtered every pig they could find, leaving a trail of corpses in their wake. Strangely, the next morning, not a single corpse could be found.

From that night on, the attacks stopped, and Dublin began to return to normal, certain that the Dolocher had been killed.

A year later, however, a young woman passing Fishers’ Alley was attacked by a giant black pig!

But the

‘Dolocher’ was soon to meet his match. A short time later, a Blacksmith arrived in Dublin on business. He spent the day drinking in Winetavern Street, and as the weather had taken a turn for the worse, he borrowed a woman’s cloak as he was leaving for home.

Turning down a lane, the Blacksmith was attacked by the

‘Dolocher’, and pinned to a wall. However, he struck the pig strongly between the eyes, and it dropped to the ground with a terrible groan.

As the Blacksmith inspected the body to ensure it was dead, he discovered the

‘Dolocher’ was not a demonic pig, but a man dressed in a pig head and skin.

The

‘Dolocher’ was soon identified as the missing sentry from Black Dog Prison. The man confessed that he had invented the terrible tale as a disguise for his real motive, robbery.

He had assisted Olocher in his suicide as a perfect cover and he had led the slaughter of Dublin’s pigs and the disposal of their bodies, to take the heat off his trail.

The

‘Dolocher’ died from his injuries and Dublin was safe again.