Belfast stabbing sufferer’s household give main replace after being left ‘damaged by atrocity’
The family of Belfast stabbing victim, Stephen Ogilvie say his condition is ‘improving’ and they hope he will come out of his coma within 48 hours after losing an eye
Stabbing victim Stephen Ogilvie
The condition of the Belfast stabbing victim is “improving” and he could be woken from a coma within the next 48 hours, his family have said. Stephen Ogilvie lost his left eye and suffered deep cuts to his head, face and back in a stabbing attack on Monday which preceded two nights of disorder in Northern Ireland.
Twelve police officers were injured, 16 arrests were made and two people were charged after Wednesday night’s unrest. An incident in which a nurse was chased and intimidated while on her way to work at Ulster Hospital was also condemned, as Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn said “law and order will be coming” for those who engaged in disorder.
DUP leader Gavin Robinson, MP for Belfast East, said he met the parents of Mr Ogilvie on Thursday, and the family were “broken” after what had happened to their son.
“They have spoken very powerfully, in my view, that their desire is that what happened to their son on Monday evening is not used as an excuse for intimidation or division within our society,” Mr Robinson said at Stormont.
“They have asked me to share that, while their son remains in a coma, his condition is improving.
“They hope, pray and trust that he will be released from that coma within the next 24 or 48 hours, at which point assessments will be made about his sight and other impacts from the atrocity that happened on Monday evening.
“They are grateful for support, but they particularly are calling for an end to the misinformation, the falsehoods and the lies that are only making a very difficult situation all the worse.”
Hadi Alodid, 30, was in court on Wednesday, facing charges of attempted murder over Monday’s knife attack.
Since then, mobs have set homes, a bus and cars ablaze in Belfast on Tuesday, with individuals targeted based on their race.
Water cannons were rolled out in Co Antrim on Wednesday after police were bombarded with bricks and a Department for Infrastructure vehicle was set alight.
Mr Benn stated that reports of people being stopped in their cars and questioned about their nationality were “completely unacceptable”.
“I know from talking to the chief constable that he and his officers are working extremely hard to identify those who are engaged in the disorder so they can be brought to justice, because if they can find the people, then law and order will be coming for them,” he said at Stormont on Thursday.
PSNI Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson informed reporters that the justice system “stands ready to give long sentences to those bringing disorder to our streets”.
He said police will be “back on the ground” in the city with “bolstered” numbers on Thursday evening.
He told reporters that officers from Great Britain have been called in to help prevent disorder.
Northern Ireland’s First Minister, Michelle O’Neill, stated: “I’m also aware that there are bad actors online orchestrating hate and fear, and stoking up tensions.”
Alliance deputy leader Eóin Tennyson expressed that there must be repercussions for individuals who “fan the flames of division online to further their own narrow agendas”.
He said: “People who couldn’t find north Belfast on a map before this week, people who don’t care about the victim, about what happened to the community, about the young people who are now embroiled in this racist thuggery, and when they move on to their next target, it will be us here in Northern Ireland who are left to pick up the pieces.”
In response to an incident where a nurse was pursued into Ulster Hospital while heading to work, Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) leader Jon Burrows labelled those who intimidate nurses as “the scum of the earth”.
“If they think they are patriots by pursuing and intimidating the people who are caring for our own citizens, they are traitors to our country,” he declared at Stormont.
“When the police get hold of them, they should arrest them, they should charge them, they should remand them and the judge should give them an exemplary sentence.”
Mr Henderson commented: “I want to turn next to the disgraceful threats and intimidation directed to our nurses, doctors, carers and healthcare staff, men and women who work every day to save lives and care for our sick relatives, they are the backbone of our public service.
“Tonight we will be increasing our patrols of key areas. I have been talking to colleagues within health trusts and others to hear their concerns about their staff welfare.”
Questions have also been posed regarding the collaboration between the UK and Irish Governments and the Northern Ireland Executive concerning border controls and immigration responsibilities.
Mr Benn, Irish Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan and Stormont Justice Minister Naomi Long had a phone conversation to discuss safeguarding and preventing the “abuse” of the Common Travel Area (CTA) following the Belfast stabbing incident.
Mr O’Callaghan highlighted to Ms Long and Mr Benn the “significant” border management operations happening at Dublin Airport.
Alodid, a Sudanese national, entered Northern Ireland via the Irish border by bus in February 2023, after flying to Dublin from Paris.
Upon arrival, Alodid claimed asylum and was granted permission to stay in the UK until 2028.
In Belfast, Mr Benn informed reporters that additional immigration checks were being conducted at ports and airports, as well as on bus and rail routes, to locate “people who are in Northern Ireland who shouldn’t be here, who are working illegally”.
Mr Benn stated that preventing abuse of the CTA was “a joint endeavour” and affirmed that the UK Government supports the CTA which “brings such benefits to the people of Ireland and the United Kingdom, including all those citizens from Northern Ireland who travel across that border every single day”.
SDLP leader Claire Hanna stated that the criticism of the Irish border following the stabbing was an attempt to “get the band back together on putting a border on this island”.
“We know that it is neither desirable or practical. It wouldn’t have solved the problem of either the grotesque violence that happened in north Belfast at the start of the week, or the lawlessness that has continued throughout.”
The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) also made a plea on Thursday for help in identifying individuals in images linked with Tuesday night’s unrest.
The force further encouraged those featured in the pictures to approach the police.
