GUIDEBOOK TO PARANORMAL ENCOUNTERS
Retired clinical psychologist Peter McCue takes readers on a journey to explore weird encounters and unexplained incidents drivers have had along Britain’s roads
WheN journalists phone Peter Mccue, it’s because they want him to throw cold water over a UFo sighting or rubbish an alien encounter.
Before he retired, Peter was a clinical psychologist. When it comes to weird flashing lights and mysterious clouds of mist, everyone expects him to be the sceptic in chief.
Instead, he has just written his second book about paranormal phenomena.
Called Paranormal Encounters on Britain’s Roads, it’s a study of all the unexplained incidents and weird encounters drivers have had over the years.
Peter, who lives outside Glasgow, explained: “I try to be as objective and scientific as possible.
“There is a public misconception about psychologists and we are brought on as token sceptics in discussions on this subject.
“In fact, many psychologists who have looked at the subject take it seriously.”
He decided to write a spooky guidebook of the UK because so many of the incidents that interest him were spotted by drivers.
Peter said: “There is nothing inherently paranormal about road travel but a lot of reporting comes from road users.
“Apparitions appear in front of vehicles, ghostly vehicles disappear behind humps in the road and then they’re not there. Alien big cats are seen by the road, then disappear.
“I thought it would be interesting to put together a compilation of cases from that domain.”
There is a bit of scientific rigour in his pages. If he has his doubts about a story, no matter how popular and well-worn, he flags it up.
He is also dubious of anyone who claims to have met a chatty ghost or alien.
Peter stressed: “If someone is describing an apparitional experience with a lot of conversation, I’d be wary. Typically apparitions don’t say anything or they’re very taciturn. It’s not necessarily false but I’d be wary.”
The internet has made it easier for paranormal investigators like Peter to track down people who have had otherworldly experiences.
But it’s also made it easier for hoaxers and pranksters – and created a huge audience for their stories.
Peter said: “Some are pranks that were just for a laugh, then the story becomes believed.”
He came across a tale about an allegedly haunted wood where a large number of people, including children, had been found dead.
He said: “If that had been true, it would be imprinted on the national consciousness.
“A quick search showed it was a hoax. There was a shot of what was meant to be a local newspaper with a photograph of bodies piled up on the ground. It turned out that the photo was taken in Lithuania.
“It was meant to be a one-off quick joke but it leaks into internet. People are very credulous and can take it seriously.” ● Paranormal Encounters on Britain’s Roads: Phantom Figures, UFOs and Missing Time by Peter McCue, £12.99, The History Press.