Harrowing footage captured the moment a man was repeatedly slashed in the face and neck on a residential street in north Belfast, with onlookers screaming “Get off” as one witness shouted: “He’s trying to cut his head off.”
The victim, named as Stephen Ogilvie, believed to be 44, suffered devastating injuries — including significant wounds to his eyes, neck and back — in the attack that police described as an “attempted beheading.” The frenzied assault was brought to an end only when brave bystanders and officers intervened.
“Hero bystanders including a man with a hurling stick intervened in a Belfast knife attack, saving the victim's life.”
Among those who rushed into danger was young dad Maitiu Mág Tighearnán, known as Matt, who had just returned home after a night out. Grabbing a wooden hurley stick used in the Irish sport of hurling, he charged towards the knifeman and struck the attacker until police arrived. Footage on social media also showed another person with a hurling stick attempting to stop the attack.
Northern Ireland secretary Hilary Benn addressed the Commons on the investigation, thanking the bystanders who tried to stop the attack. “Amidst the horror of what happened, we also saw something extraordinary,” he said. “When confronted with scenes of terrifying violence, members of the public did not walk on by. Instead, a number of them stepped forward and, at immense risk to their own safety, they intervened to pull the assailant away and protect the victim until the police arrived. To those individuals, I would like to say this – you showed the very best of humanity and you have the profound gratitude of this entire House.”
Local MP John Finucane, who visited the scene, said the bystanders had shown “extraordinary courage” and may have saved the victim’s life. “They showed extraordinary courage and bravery to step in, to put themselves in danger to save, I think possibly, a man’s life because of their selfless acts,” he said. He described the area as a quiet residential neighbourhood where people woke on Tuesday to find “something so horrific had taken place on their doorstep.”
A 30-year-old man has been charged with attempted murder, possession of an article with a blade or point in a public place and threats to kill. He is due to appear before Belfast Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday. Police said they recovered a kitchen knife from the scene. Neighbours said the suspected attacker had only moved into a neighbouring block of flats days before the assault.
One neighbour, who gave his name only as Hugh, 70, said of Ogilvie: “He’s lived here for around a year and a half and has been a bit of a nuisance, but what’s happened to him is absolutely horrendous and I’d never wish that on anybody.” Ogilvie’s apartment window remains boarded up after a rock was allegedly thrown through it during an incident last year. Hugh said around seven asylum seekers had moved into the block over the past year.
Police later said the actions of courageous members of the public and responding officers had “undoubtedly” saved the victim’s life. The victim remains in a serious condition.