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Terror on the TorBy Mark Ford 09:30 - 20th October 2005 The spectre of occult practices in the West reared its head yesterday as police investigated a second case of ritual sheep slaughter near an ancient Pagan altar on an isolated moor. Six sheep were found with their necks broken and their eyes removed on land at Moortown near the edge of Dartmoor. Four of their bodies were arranged in a regular square shape, another two were lying next to a pattern of stones. In January, seven sheep were found just half-a-mile away in the same eerie shadow of Vixen Tor. Again their necks were broken, and this time chillingly arranged in the shape of a heptagram - a seven-pointed star symbol, linked for centuries with the dark arts and Black Magic rituals. Now, the Western Daily Press can reveal that police are connecting the incidents with the presence of an ancient Pagan sacrificial altar, the stone remains of which are located just to the east of the tor. "Our understanding is that this place used to be some sort of meeting place for Pagans," said a spokesman for Devon and Cornwall police. "To the east of Vixen Tor there is evidence of an ancient stone sacrificial altar. They added: "We are investigating this as a matter of criminal damage. "People obviously have their right to practise their religion, but when that involves damaging, or in this case killing, other people's property, it becomes a crime." The dead sheep, worth £600, were still warm when they were found by their owner, farmer Daniel Alford, on Sunday morning. He has little doubt the shocking incident has its roots in Pagan ritual. "You hear of all sorts of crazy stuff like that around Dartmoor, it's that sort of place, people believe in all sorts of strange things," he said yesterday. "It is a bit unsettling knowing that someone has been creeping around up there doing this, but there's not a lot we can do, it's such a vast area. "There were the four sheep and then 10ft or 15ft away there were another two, which were laid next to three stones which had been arranged in a pattern," he said. "The stones looked like a kind a of gateway, a similar thing that had been found in January. "After talking to a few people we established that it was probably something to do with Janus the Pagan god of January and the beginning of the New Year and banishing evil spirits. "What this one is about, I've no idea. It was a full moon." In this case, the eyes were completely removed from the sheep, and there were no signs of the messy pecking that could attribute the loss to an attack by birds. Police confirmed the animals had their necks quickly broken and there were no indications of a prolonged struggle or suffering. It is thought at least two people would have to had to have been involved, given the sheer physical strength needed for the killing and arranging of the sheep. Vixen Tor and the Alford family have gained notoriety recently in a high-profile right-to-roam row with ramblers, walkers and climbers. In 2003, the Alfords controversially ended 30 years of permitted access to the tor on the grounds they could be held liable if there was an accident on it. Earlier this year, the decision was upheld by an inquiry inspector who ruled against opening up the land under Countryside and Rights of Way legislation. Last month those demanding access to the tor and the land it stands on mounted a peaceful protest on the Alfords' land. Yesterday Daniel Alford said he did not believe the clash over access was in anyway connected to the disturbing finds. "I really don't think it is the sort of thing the Thermos flask brigade would get involved in," he said. http://www.westpress.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=146049&command=displayContent&sourceNode=145779&contentPK=13351104 |
Posted by BrigantesNation 21st October 2005ce Edited 22nd October 2005ce
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