![\"Maitie](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/SEI_300744169-c841.jpg\")
\n\t\tMaitie Mag Toghearnan has revealed himself as the man who confronted the attacker in Belfast last night. (Picture: GoFundMe)<\/p>\n
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\n\t\tMaitie Mag Toghearnan has revealed himself as the man who confronted the attacker in Belfast last night. (Picture: GoFundMe)<\/p>\n
A man hailed the \u2018hero of Belfast\u2019 after striking a knifeman <\/a>with his son\u2019s hurling stick has spoken of the moment he decided to step in.<\/p>\n Maitiu M\u00e1g Tighearn\u00e1n fought off the attacker with a friend who knowsBrazilian jujitsu on Monday night.<\/p>\n The 32-year-old has replied to social media comments calling him a hero saying how people could choose a more flattering photo of him.<\/p>\n He told the Daily Mail<\/a> of the moment he approached the knifeman who had his victim pinned to the floor.<\/p>\n He said: \u2018[My friend\u2019s] trained in Brazilian jujitsu and so he approached them to separate them but as he got closer he saw the knife. It looked to be a serrated steak-knife but with a broken handle.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tSign up for all of the latest stories\t\t\t<\/p>\n Start your day informed with Metro’s News Updates<\/a> newsletter or get Breaking News<\/a> alerts the moment it happens. <\/p>\n \u2018He shouted to me that the man attacking the other had a knife and to get something to help.<\/p>\n \u2018At this point I thought someone was going to lose their life.<\/p>\n \u2018I\u2019d\u00a0taken my son to hurling practice earlier that evening and so I\u2019d got out of the car, gone to the boot and grabbed his hurling stick.<\/p>\n \u2018Instinct took over and I ran over and I smashed this guy over the head with the hurling stick. Right on the flat side, about three times. As hard as I could.<\/p>\n \u2018Andre was a few seconds behind and he came running in and tried to subdue the attacker with an ankle-hold so he could free the victim.<\/p>\n \u2018I hit this guy again, hard, but it didn\u2019t seem to phase him. He did stumble\u00a0back, though and dropped the knife. I think another man who\u2019d been watching came in and kicked the knife away.<\/p>\n \u2018We were trying to roll the attacker onto his stomach to subdue him but he was struggling. The police then arrived and four officers took over before armed tactical support turned up.<\/p>\n \t\t \u2018The victim was still conscious. But he was weak with all the blood loss. \u2018When he was taken away, he looked to have a horrible injury to his eye. The knifeman was led away by six officers but they were still struggling with him.\u2019<\/p>\n He added: \u2018I\u2019m glad we intervened when we did. It was pure chance that we\u2019d gone that route to the petrol station.<\/p>\n \u2018People have called us heroes but to be honest I\u2019d like to think most people would\u2019ve got stuck in and helped if they could. I just hope the victim pulls through and manages to recover as best he can.\u2019<\/p>\n Niall Donnan, who set up a GoFundMe to \u2018buy Maitiu a pint\u2019, <\/a>told Metro: \u2018I could only bear to watch two or three seconds of the video.<\/p>\n \u2018I live just 30 minutes away. I just thought this guy deserves something for his bravery, so I just got on it as soon as possible.<\/p>\n \u2018I have reached out to him online, but he hasn\u2019t got back yet. He\u2019s obviously got thousands of messages coming through.<\/p>\n \u2018It\u2019s all over Facebook<\/a>, everywhere on my feed is just full of pictures of him praising his bravery.\u2019<\/p>\n \t\t Niall added: \u2018For sure, he definitely has saved his life, providing the victim\u2019s condition doesn\u2019t worsen. <\/p>\n \u2018He\u2019s given the man a chance. The hurley stick is such an Irish symbol \u2013 it is amazing what he did.\u2019<\/p>\n He added: \u2018If we can take anything from this horrific story, we can take pride in knowing that we can look out for each other. We should look out for each other, and that\u2019s the beautiful thing about human connection and our society.\u2019<\/p>\n PSNI chief constable Sir Jon Boutcher said the suspect, understood to be Sudanese, was arrested at the scene on suspicion of attempted murder.<\/p>\n A kitchen knife was also found at the scene.<\/p>\n The suspect is believed to have entered Northern Ireland via Dublin and in February 2023 claimed asylum. It is understood the Home Office granted the man leave to remain in Northern Ireland on 28 September 2023.<\/p>\n In the House of Commons today, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer<\/a>, hailedsaid: \u2018My thoughts are first and foremost with the victim, and I thank the first responders, including members of the public who intervened.\u2019<\/p>\n \t\t The scene outside an apartment complex off Kinnaird Avenue in the lower Antrim Road area remained cordoned off on Tuesday morning, with markers visible on the ground where the attack had taken place.<\/p>\n In a video too graphic to publish, a knifeman holds a bloody hand in the air as he pins the victim to the ground. The suspect aims several stabbing motions towards his face.<\/a><\/p>\n FOLLOW THE LATEST FROM BELFAST IN OUR LIVE BLOG<\/a><\/p>\n As others shout \u2018He\u2019s trying to cut his head off\u2019 and keep their distance local dad Maitiu runs into danger swinging his hurley stick and landing well-aimed blows to the suspect\u2019s face.<\/p>\n The suspect breaks his hold and rolls over moments before police arrive at the scene in Kinnaird Avenue.<\/p>\n To donate to Maitiu\u2019s fundraiser click here.<\/a><\/p>\n The victim, in his 40s, suffered \u2018significant injuries to his eyes and serious slash wound injuries to his back and face\u2019, police have said.<\/p>\n He remains in a serious condition in hospital.<\/p>\n Arrow Arrow Arrow![\"MUZZED](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/SEI_300717733-4b88-e1780998227163.jpg\")
\n\t\tFootage posted online appears to show a knifeman pinning the victim to the ground before stabbing him several times<\/p>\n![\"BELFAST,](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/SEI_300716227-06f6.jpg\")
\n\t\tThe incident has been condemned across the political parties, offering praise to locals who intervened to stop the attack. (Picture: Getty)<\/p>\n![\"BELFAST,](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/SEI_300716230-ef5c.jpg\")
\n\t\tPolice attend the scene following a stabbing attack in North Belfast (Picture: Getty)<\/p>\n
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