Hero Matt McKiernan, 32, has spoken exclusively to the Daily Mail about the moment he used his son’s hurling stick to strike the Sudanese knife attacker in north Belfast.

Mr McKiernan, who runs his own removal company and lives in West Belfast, said he was driving with a friend named Andre when they spotted the chaos on Kinnaird Avenue late on Tuesday night.

“I turned into Kinnaird Avenue and I could see another car stopped in the middle of the road,” he said. “The woman driving then began reversing at speed as though she was trying to get away from something. She stopped as I approached and I drove round her and as I did so we could see what looked to be two men fighting in the street, with one on top of the other.”

Andre, trained in Brazilian jujitsu, jumped out first. As he got closer, he saw the serrated steak knife with a broken handle.

Hero Matt McKiernan was armed only with a wooden stick when he led a trio of members of the public to rescue the attacker’s victim from death

“He shouted to me that the man attacking the other had a knife and to get something to help,” Mr McKiernan continued. “At this point I thought someone was going to lose their life.”

Mr McKiernan had taken his son to hurling practice earlier that evening, so he ran to the boot of the car and grabbed the stick. “Instinct 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.”

Andre followed seconds later and tried to subdue the attacker with an ankle hold to free the victim. Mr McKiernan struck him again, but the attacker stumbled back, dropped the knife, and another man watching kicked it away.

“We were trying to roll the attacker onto his stomach to subdue him but he was struggling,” Mr McKiernan said. “The police then arrived and four officers took over before armed tactical support turned up.”

The victim was still conscious but weak from blood loss. When taken away, he had a horrible injury to his eye. Six officers led the knifeman away, but they were still struggling with him.

Mr McKiernan, whose Irish name is Maitiu Mág Tighearnán, added: “I’m glad we intervened when we did. It was pure chance that we’d gone that route to the petrol station. People have called us heroes but to be honest I’d like to think most people would’ve got stuck in and helped if they could. I just hope the victim pulls through and manages to recover as best he can.”

The young father (right) had grabbed a hurley stick – used for the Irish sport of hurling – when he arrived home after a night out to find the horror unfolding on his doorstep

His partner Aoife O’Reilly expressed pride in him. “I couldn’t be prouder of Matt. This is my partner and the father of my child who stood in and hopefully saved a life last night.”

Matt survived his intervention without serious injury. Video footage shows him swinging the stick at the attacker several times, appearing to stop him from further injuring the victim.

The hero’s identity was confirmed after police charged the Sudanese asylum seeker with attempted murder. PSNI Chief Constable Jon Boutcher said the suspect is believed to have travelled from Sudan to Paris, then Dublin, before taking a bus to Belfast in February 2023 using the Common Travel Area. He immediately claimed asylum and was granted five years’ leave to remain in September 2023.

The attack at 10.30pm on Kinnaird Avenue left a man in his 40s in a critical condition with significant eye injuries and wounds to his face, neck and back. A kitchen knife was recovered from the scene, and police confirmed the attack was not terror-related.

Political and public statements

Earlier today, Nigel Farage and Kemi Badenoch demanded more information on the attacker’s immigration status, with Farage saying leave-to-remain status was handed out “like Smarties”. In Parliament, DUP leader Gavin Robinson called for uncontrolled immigration to end.

Matt McKiernan (left) was armed only with a wooden stick when he led a trio of members of the public who tried to rescue the attacker’s victim from certain death

Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn praised the public interveners. “Amidst the horror of what happened we also saw something extraordinary… You showed the very best of humanity and you have the profound gratitude of the entire house.”

First Minister Michelle O’Neill hit out against claims Northern Ireland is operating an “open borders” immigration system. “I don’t know any country that has open borders… The debate today is about our society, about our inclusive society… Our thoughts today are very much with that gentleman who finds himself as a victim of that violent and horrific attack last night.”

Chief Constable Jon Boutcher urged people to let the police do their job without interference. Anyone with information is asked to contact police, quoting reference 1654 08/06/26.

The suspect will appear at Belfast Magistrates’ Court tomorrow.

SOURCE: