Speculation has surrounded the case of the Dalby Spook — a talking mongoose called Gef — since a 13-year-old girl is said to have first seen it in 1931.

Now, Christopher Josiffe, a cataloguer at London University's Senate Library, is carrying out new research into the case and he is appealing for Islanders to help uncover the truth.

'I have never been able to decide whether Gef was a hoax, or a genuine — if unexplained — phenomenon,' he said.

'Accordingly, I would be very interested if any of your readers knew the Irving family.

'For instance, did they seem to be publicity-seekers or did they ever charge admission for visitors to Doarlish Cashen?'

>> The Story of Gef

Much research has already been carried out since the Irving family, living in a cottage at Doarlish Cashen, heard strange sounds coming from behind panelling in the house.

It is claimed James and Margaret Irving's daughter, Voirrey, befriended a creature with yellow fur, bushy tail and flat snout, and which introduced himself as 'Gef, an extra clever mongoose from Delhi'.

Gef could sing as well as talk and, with Voirrey's tuition, his vocabulary grew rapidly. He roamed the area to relate gossip back to the Irvings.

He had many traits linked to poltergeists — an uneven temper, was prone to throwing objects at people and made exaggerated claims about his powers.

Reports of Gef ended when the Irvings left Doarish Cashen in 1935.

The next owner, a Mr Graham, said he snared and killed a strange-looking animal.

Legendary paranormal investigator Harry Price was one of a number of researchers who travelled to the Island in the 1930s to probe the strange affair.

As part of his investigation, he had three pawprints made by Gef in plasticine and an impression of his teeth marks evaluated by the Natural History Museum, but they were not matched to any animal.

Mr Price failed to come to any conclusion as to the truth or otherwise of the sightings.

Part of Mr Josiffe's job involves cataloguing books for the Harry Price Library of Magical Literature.

His interest in the case was aroused after looking at the books, letters, photos and other material contained in the library and its archives.

In fact, there is so much material that he has not managed to work his way through the whole collection yet.

He said: 'An interview with Voirrey Irving in the 1970s indicated that she still maintained Gef to have been genuine, but that he had not brought good luck to her family and she rather wished he had not come to stay with them.

'My impression, from reading the archived material, is that the Irvings did not benefit from the publicity; rather, that they were disturbed by gangs of sightseers who made their lives a misery.

'It has been suggested that the whole episode was an elaborate hoax perpetrated by the daughter, Voirrey — but I cannot imagine that she could have hoaxed her father and mother, both of whom seem perfectly sincere in their belief in Gef.

'James Irving, the father, sent Harry Price a diary consisting of Gef's activities over several years.'

He added: 'I am inclined to regard the case as a poltergeist manifestation, similar in some ways to, for instance the Enfield Poltergeist case in the 1970s — objects being hurled around, knocking and scratching sounds, a voice which begins by just making animal noises but quickly "learns" human speech.

'In both cases a teenage girl was the focus for the events.'

Mr Josiffe plans to gain enough information to give a lecture on the subject at Treadwells, a bookshop specialising in cultural history and esoteric belief, in London's Covent Garden.

He said: 'I realise that there will now be very few people still alive who are able to recall these events, given that they took place in the 1930s.

'Accordingly, it may well be that my only hope of any recollections will be from people recalling what their parents told them.'

As part of his research he also hopes to visit the Island.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Christopher by emailing him at gef_investigation@hotmail.com

Voirrey Irving died in 2005 and Doarlish Cashen has been demolished.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?
Send your comments to newsviews@newsiom.co.im

YOUR COMMENTS

It was a hoax – now leave me alone. Thanks
GEF

They are going to carry out research on this? Dear God what next? Gangs of academics coming over to see if there really are Fairies at the Fairy Bridge. Can the Isle of Man distance itself from these nutters please? We are already thought of as weird by the rest of the world.
CATTY

Hi Of course Gef was real and why not, I watch and listen to Meerkats advertising their website on the television most nights!!! Regards
PETER

I am Gef, hear me roar!!!!
JACK THE DANCING FISH

The Dalby Spook is alive and well and living in the office of the Isle of Man Tourist Board.. On regular occasions he takes a trip up to the House of Keys and haunts Tony Brown.
A. HAUNTING

Ah yes. This will be that very same bunch of scientists, no doubt, who after spending several months and thousands of pounds on analysing the bones of the Tower of London's lions concluded that they were originally from Africa. They'll be telling us that smoking is bad for you next!
STEVE

GEF was my cousin, he was a very intelligent member of our family who rose to fame as the President of the United Sates after he left the Island because nobody was taking him seriously, even the fairies though that he was a fake. May I suggest that rather than investigate my family members, perhaps the scientists would be better employed if they examined the MHK's to see if there was any truth in the rumour that they all originate from the human species.
RIKKI TIKKI TAVI.

He is here, alive and kicking (but only just)....
DALBY RESIDENT

Aw poor ole spook - about time he stood for Chief Minister aWOOOOoooo
:- o
A. HAUNTING and W.H.A TAFRIGHT

I believe Gef was an authentic animal, and that the family's experience was authentic. In India, this animal was probably exposed to the spiritual companion aspect (this is what most poltergeists
are) of older children and young teens through contact with them.
Effectively, this turned Gef into a kind of medium, which could 'channel' the spirit-companion of the teen. Our modern stories about identity and 'reality' are largely nonsense, however sophisticated they may appear. And yes, in such a situation, the girl would eventually discover that this relationship was unwholesome, in part because the animal is not being allowed to be an animal, and is instead a vessel for a not-entirely-human relational capacity which many teens encounter but cannot explain. Very young children, however, are keenly aware of these circumstances, and their meanings and purposes.
ORGANELLE