A man praised for intervening in an alleged knife attack in Belfast, UK, has called for thousands of pounds raised in his name to be redirected to the victim and his family, while denouncing the anti-immigration unrest that has followed the incident.
Intervention and Fundraiser
Maitiu Mag Tighearnan, 32, stepped in during Monday night's attack on Stephen Ogilvie in north Belfast, striking the alleged assailant with a hurling stick before police arrived. The footage of his intervention spread rapidly online, prompting supporters to launch a fundraiser that has collected over £30,000.
Speaking on Good Morning Britain, Tighearnan stated that the money should instead support Ogilvie, who remains hospitalized after suffering life-changing injuries. The victim lost his left eye and sustained severe wounds to his neck, back, and face in the attack, which occurred on Kinnaird Avenue at approximately 10:30 PM.
Heroism Denied
Tighearnan rejected the label of hero, describing his actions as an instinctive response to witnessing someone in danger. “It was a natural reaction,” he explained, adding that he and a friend happened upon the incident by chance while taking a shortcut to a petrol station. Initially believing two men were fighting, they stopped to intervene before realizing a knife was involved.
He retrieved a hurling stick from his car, which had been used earlier that day during his son's sports practice, and struck the alleged attacker in an effort to stop the assault.
The victim's family has since contacted Tighearnan to thank him, telling him that the intervention by members of the public helped save Ogilvie's life.
Legal Proceedings
Sudanese asylum seeker Hadi Alodid, 30, has been charged with attempted murder, possession of a bladed article, and making threats to kill. He appeared before Belfast Magistrates' Court and was remanded in custody. The charges relate to the attack on Ogilvie. Alodid has not yet entered a plea.
Unrest and Condemnation
The stabbing has been followed by two nights of disorder across Northern Ireland. Police reported that 12 officers were injured and 16 arrests were made during unrest on Wednesday night.
Tighearnan criticized those involved in the violence, stating that legitimate protest loses its purpose when it turns destructive. “Everyone is entitled to their right of opinion and their right to protest. When it turns violent, then you lose sight of the protest and what it stands for,” he said.
Violence was reported in Belfast, Newtownabbey, and Londonderry, with officers facing bricks, petrol bombs, and other projectiles. Police deployed water cannons as crowds attacked property and set vehicles on fire.
Victim's Family Statement
Ogilvie's family also distanced themselves from the unrest, issuing a statement through police in which they said they were “disgusted” by the scenes that had unfolded.
The family stressed that they did not want the attack used to fuel division or hostility, adding that many migrants make valuable contributions to society, including in healthcare and hospitality. “We do not want this terrible tragedy to be used to divide people or fuel hostility,” the statement said. “Do not do this in the name of our loved one as we do not share the same values.”
