ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Bridget Cleary

Imagine you lived in a village a long time ago when there was no electricity or internet. In this village, there was a lady named Bridget Cleary. She was married to a man named Michael, and they lived together in a small house.

One day, Bridget got sick, and her husband and family became worried. They believed that she was not suffering from a regular sickness but that she was possessed by fairies (imaginary creatures known for being mischievous and magical).

To try and get rid of the fairy possession, her husband and family decided to do something unthinkable. They would perform a ritual where they would burn Bridget alive, believing that once she was burnt, the fairy spirit would leave her body and she would recover from her illness.

This horrific incident shocked the entire village, and the people responsible for Bridget's death were eventually caught and charged with murder.

The story of Bridget Cleary is a tragic reminder of the danger of superstition and the importance of valuing human life above all else. It is a lesson that we should treat illness with proper medical care and not resort to extreme measures like burning people alive.