THIS is the have-a-go hero who armed himself with a hurling stick and stepped in to stop a suspected knifeman allegedly trying to behead a man in a Belfast street.
Young dad Maitiu Mág Tighearnán, known as Matt, is the selfless hero who put himself in harm’s way with two other members of the public in a desperate bid to save the victim during the horror attack.
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Maitiu Mág Tighearnán bravely intervened to stop the sickening attack Credit: Gofundme
One hero bystander steps in with a hurling stick
Matt had just arrived home after a night out when he discovered the terrifying scene unfolding outside his home on Kinnaird Avenue on Wednesday night.
Grabbing a wooden hurley stick, used in the Irish sport of hurling, he rushed out to confront the attacker.
Dramatic footage showed Matt swinging the stick several times at the suspect as he and two other men tried to stop the sickening attack.
The suspect was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after the attack at around 10:30 p.m left a man in his 40s fighting for his life.
‘BEHEADING’ HORROR
Belfast ‘knifeman’ is Sudanese asylum seeker who entered UK from Dublin
‘BEHEADING’ ATTACK
Moment hero batters ‘knifeman’ who left victim with horror eye injuries
Harrowing footage of the attack has been widely shared online
Police forensics probe the scene after the attack Credit: Alamy
The victim suffered significant eye injuries as well as wounds to his face, neck and back. He remains in a critical condition.
Social media footage appeared to show a man standing over the bloodied victim while holding a knife to his throat.
Witnesses could be heard screaming: “He’s trying to cut his head off.”
Heroic bystanders then intervened and brought the incident to an end.
Matt’s partner, Aoife O’Reilly, paid tribute to his bravery.
She said: “I couldn’t be prouder of Matt.
“This is my partner and the father of my child who stood in and hopefully saved a man’s life last night.”
She also described him as “very, very humble”.
Matt is understood to have escaped serious injury during the confrontation.
Writing online after the attack, he said he had come across the incident “by chance” and that he “got out to protect a young lad” when he realised what was happening and before police had arrived.
His identity emerged as police revealed the suspect is a Sudanese asylum seeker.
He is believed to have travelled from Sudan to Paris, and then from Paris to Dublin, on unknown dates, before taking a bus to Belfast in February 10, 2023.
PSNI Chief Constable Jon Boutcher said he then immediately claimed asylum, before he was given leave to remain in the UK on September 28, 2023.
Police said a kitchen knife was recovered from the scene.
Witnesses described hearing the victim screaming before he was taken away by ambulance with bandages covering his head.
Detectives have said they do not believe the attack was terror related.
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