The family of Stephen Ogilvie, the man seriously injured in Monday night's knife attack in North Belfast, have issued a statement urging the community to remain calm and reject unrest following the incident.
Family Statement on Unrest
Through a statement released via Independent Councillor Stafford Ward, Stephen Ogilvie's family emphasised that they 'want to make it clear that overnight unrest is not welcome.' They also commended local residents who intervened to help the victim and urged both the public and press to honour their privacy.
Mr Ogilvie suffered the loss of his left eye during the assault. Hadi Alodid, 30, has been remanded in custody at Belfast Magistrates' Court for four weeks after being charged with the attempted stabbing murder of Stephen Ogilvie, threats to kill an NHS radiographer, and possession of a knife.
Family's Plea for Peace
'We are completely devastated by the horrific attack on our loved one on Kinnaird Avenue. This has been a massive shock to our whole family, and right now, our only priority is being at his bedside and helping him recover,' the family said.
'We want to say a profound thank you to the local people who bravely stepped in during the attack. Your quick actions absolutely saved his life, and we will never forget what you did for him in that moment. We also want to thank the emergency services and the doctors and nurses looking after him.'
'We are aware of the tensions and talk of protests following this incident. We want to make it absolutely clear that overnight unrest is not welcome, and peaceful protest is the only way forward.'
'We have many migrants who make a deeply valuable contribution to our country, including in our healthcare system and hospitality sector, and we depend on them to make our country work. We do not want this terrible tragedy to be used to divide people or fuel hostility.'
Appeal for Privacy and Information
'We are asking the media and the public to please give us some space. We need privacy to focus on our family right now, without cameras or people speculating about what happened.'
'If you know anything at all about the attack, or saw anything strange near Kinnaird Avenue, please go to the police. Thank you for respecting our privacy.'
