A man who bravely used a hurling stick to confront a knifeman in north Belfast has been identified as Maitiu Mag Tighearnan. The incident occurred on Kinnaird Avenue on Monday night, where Tighearnan was filmed striking the assailant five times on the head with the wooden hurley, while other bystanders joined in by kicking and punching the attacker.
Details of the Incident
Police arrested a man on suspicion of attempted murder and declared a critical incident. The suspect was taken into custody after a victim sustained severe injuries to his face, neck, and back. In a social media post, Tighearnan said he “just landed there by chance” and managed to “protect a young lad.” He was reportedly visiting his partner, who lives on the street where the attack took place.
Why He Intervened
When asked why he intervened and whether he waited for police, Tighearnan responded: “Mate, I just landed there by chance. Cops were called before I even got out to protect a young lad. As if waiting on cops was my first thought.”
Suspect Background
The suspect is believed to be Sudanese and had leave to remain in Northern Ireland after coming from Dublin, according to police.
Political Reactions
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer praised “members of the public who intervened.” Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) politician Brian Kingston also commended residents, stating: “I do want to commend other local residents who intervened and did what they could at risk to themselves to bring this attack to an end – people need to know and they have a right to know what occurred and how could such a barbaric attack have occurred.”
Protests are being planned in Northern Ireland after the attack, as revealed by DUP MP Jim Shannon in the Commons. He noted: “Tensions are inflamed and at this moment I am aware of planned protests throughout my constituency, Strangford.”
Call for Calm
Northern Ireland’s justice minister, Naomi Long, warned of “bad faith actors who want to stir trouble.” Speaking at a Stormont press conference on Tuesday, she urged: “The only people who will be harmed if there is unrest on our streets are innocent people. The only thing that will be achieved is further victims. And so I’m asking for people to be calm, to be rational at a time when it is easy to be irrational, because you’re hurt, you’re upset, and you’re angry and because there are bad faith actors who want to stir trouble. It is not in the interests of anyone in Northern Ireland for us to see our community torn apart in these instances.”
