Belfast stabbing victim's family condemn disinformation about Stephen Ogilvie's condition

Police fire a water cannon towards rioters after they set fire to wheelie bins and removed a garden fence to use as a shield against the water cannon on Antrim Rd, at the Sandyknowes roundabout in Newtownabbey. Picture: PA

The family of the man who lost an eye in Monday night’s knife attack in Belfast has said the spreading of false information about his condition online is very distressing.

Stephen Ogilvie remains in hospital after the attack on Kinnaird Avenue in Belfast, which has left him without sight in one eye.

Earlier on Wednesday, Hadi Alodid, 30, appeared in court charged with attempted murder over the knife attack.

In a statement released by the PSNI late on Wednesday night, the family said: “We are completely devastated by the horrific attack on our loved one on Kinnaird Avenue. 

"This has been a massive shock to our whole family, and right now, our only priority is being at his bedside and helping him recover.

"We have witnessed a lot of false information circulating on social media which is now forcing us to clarify that our loved one is in fact in a stable condition, and we are solely focused on his recovery at this time."

The statement continued: “We are also appealing to the media and the public to please give us some space. We need privacy to focus on our family right now, without cameras or people speculating about what happened via social media.

“We have been left feeling disgusted by the scenes that unfolded yesterday across Northern Ireland in the wake of what happened. 

"We want to make it absolutely clear that to do this in response is not supported by our family, and peaceful protest is only ever the way forward. 

'We do not want this to be used to divide people'

"We have many migrants who make a deeply valuable contribution to our country, including from within our healthcare system and hospitality sector, and we depend on them to make our country work. 

"We do not want this terrible tragedy to be used to divide people or fuel hostility — do not do this in the name of our loved one as we do not share the same values.”  It concluded: 

We also wish to say a profound thank you to the local people who bravely stepped in during the attack. 

"Your quick actions absolutely saved his life, and we will never forget what you did for him in that moment. 

"We also want to thank the emergency services and the doctors and nurses looking after him.

“If you know anything at all about the attack, or saw anything strange near Kinnaird Avenue, please go to the police and stop sharing false information on social media, as it is deeply distressing.

"Thank you for respecting our privacy."