A BRAVE dad who armed himself with a stick and stepped in to stop a brutal knife attack in Belfast says he hopes “anyone would do the same”.
Maitiu Mág Tighearnán, known as Matt, put himself in harm’s way along with two other members of the public in a desperate bid to save the victim during what was described as an attempted beheading.
Dad Maitiu Mág Tighearnán speaking on Good Morning Britain on Thursday Credit: ITV
Matt stepped in with a hurling stick
Stephen Ogilvie, believed to be aged 44, suffered devastating injuries, including losing his left eye.
Matt had just come back from a night out when he discovered the terrifying scene unfolding outside his home on Monday night.
Grabbing a wooden hurley stick, used in the Irish sport of hurling, he rushed out to confront the attacker.
Speaking on Good Morning Britain today, Matt said: “If it was any of our family we’d hope they’d do the same. We’re just grateful we could intervene when we could.”
Stephen Ogilvie has been named by locals as the victim of the horror attack Credit: Supplied
Matt said he just did what anyone would do Credit: Gofundme
He went on to say: “I would love to see him (Stephen) and see how he’s recovering.
“I did speak to family they thanked me. I received a message from another family. I haven’t been able to speak directly to him.
“If it was any of our family we’d hope they’d do the same. We’re just grateful we could intervene when we could.”
Dramatic footage showed Matt swinging the stick several times at the suspect as he and two other men tried to stop the sickening attack.
Harrowing footage of the attack has been widely shared online
Police forensics probe the scene after the attack Credit: Alamy
The suspect was charged on suspicion of attempted murder, possession of a bladed article and threats to kill.
It comes after cops detained a Sudanese asylum seeker who is believed to have travelled from Sudan to Paris, and then from Paris to Dublin, on unknown dates, before taking a bus to Belfast in February 10, 2023.
Officers were scrambled to Kinnaird Avenue in the north of at around 10.30pm on Tuesday after receiving reports of the knife attack.
Harrowing footage appears to show a knifeman slashing the victim’s neck and face with a blade as onlookers yell “get off”.
One appears to shout: “He’s trying to cut his head off.”
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Eze Chidiebere Paul
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