Gilbert de Moravia Curse

St. Gilbert de Moravia was a 13th century Scottish bishop who is said to have laid a curse upon anyone who harmed Dornoch Cathedral. Two deaths that occurred under mysterious circumstances have been linked to the legend: William Sutherland's in 1570 and 19-year-old Daryl Shearer's in 2008.¹

Fast Facts

1. Curse laid "upon those who destroy and injure" Dornoch Cathedral²
2. No official record of other deaths related to the curse in modern times
3. Dornoch Cathedral is in the Scottish Highlands
4. Cathedral chosen as seat of Diocese of Caithness in 1222³
5. Bishop's official title: Gilbert de Moravia, Bishop of Caithness
6. Preceded in bishopric by Adam in 1214⁴
7. Followed by William in 1251⁴
8. Only Bishop of Caithness to rise to sainthood⁴

William Sutherland

Local legend has it that William Sutherland died after accidentally kicking over an urn that held St. Gilbert's bones during a skirmish. The offending foot supposedly rotted away slowly over time, leaving the man to die an agonizing death.¹

Daryl Shearer

19-year-old Daryl Shearer died in a holding cell in nearby Dingwall after his arrest for stealing money and vandalizing the cathedral. Although an autopsy was performed, the cause of his death is publicly unknown.¹

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