A Belfast father who stumbled upon a blood-soaked scene outside his home after a chance trip to a petrol station has described how his instinctive response was to grab a hurling stick and try to save a man's life.
Chance Encounter with Violence
Maitiu Mág Tighearnán, known as Matt, had returned from a night out and was heading to get petrol with a friend when he unexpectedly found himself at the centre of one of Belfast's most shocking recent attacks. The dad said there was 'blood everywhere' when he encountered the aftermath of the brutal assault on Tuesday evening, which has since been described as an attempted beheading.
Believing a man desperately needed help, Matt armed himself with a wooden hurley stick from the boot of his car and rushed to intervene alongside two other members of the public. The victim, Stephen Ogilvie, believed to be aged 44, suffered devastating injuries during the attack, including losing his left eye. Sudanese asylum seeker Hadi Alodid, 30, has since been charged with attempted murder.
Heroic Intervention
Speaking on Good Morning Britain today, Matt recalled the horrifying moment he arrived at the scene. 'There was blood everywhere. So the first thing is… that man needs help,' he said. 'It's a natural reaction for what I feel is me. And most people who I know would also do the same.' The hurley stick – similar to a hockey stick and used in the Irish sport of hurling – belonged to Matt's son and had been left in the car following a practice session.
Matt explained it was 'pure chance' he had decided to take a shortcut on the way to the petrol station, placing him at the scene just as the attack unfolded. He went on to say: '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.'
Aftermath and Charges
Matt also spoke of his hope to meet Mr Ogilvie as he continues his recovery. 'I would love to see him (Stephen) and see how he's recovering,' he said. '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.' Dramatic footage captured the moment Matt swung the stick several times at the suspect as he and two other men attempted to stop the attack. Detectives investigating the incident later recovered a kitchen knife from the scene.
Alodid was charged with attempted murder, possession of a bladed article and threats to kill before appearing at Belfast Magistrates' Court on Wednesday. The court heard Alodid is believed to have travelled from Sudan to Paris, before making his way from Paris to Dublin on unknown dates and then travelling by bus to Belfast in February 2023.
The incident has sparked two consecutive nights of anti-immigrant riots, with a heavy police presence remaining across parts of the city. This is a breaking news story and is being constantly updated.
