witness sister bridget marie 's statement in 1969 when i asked her specifically about 'the man ' 'ah , that that was the invisible companion who hovered near that child night and day the selfsame demon , i might add , who later hovered about her daughter antha , ever ready to do the child 's bidding and later around poor little deirdre , the sweetest and most innocent of them all do n't ask me if i ever actually saw the creature for as god is my witness , i do n't know if i ever saw him , but i tell you , and i 've told the priest myself many a time , i knew when he was there ! '