Belfast 'knife attack victim' emerges from coma - but family reveals he may be left totally blind

The alleged victim of a knife attack in Belfast has emerged from his coma, but might be left totally blind.

Stephen Ogilvie, 44, lost an eye after the alleged stabbing on June 8 - which led to widespread riots on the streets of Northern Ireland.

Sudanese asylum seeker Hadi Alodid, 30, has been charged with attempted murder after the attack.

Now, Mr Ogilvie's family has given an update on his condition as he continues his recovery after being taken out of an induced coma.

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Two separate fundraisers have collectively raised over £40,000 to help Mr Ogilvie.

His family, in an update posted to GoFundMe, thanked supporters who donated towards his recovery.

"The funds raised will help provide Stephen with the equipment, support and everyday items he may need as he adjusts to life following this attack," they said.

"With the loss of sight in his left eye and the possibility of losing sight in his right eye, your generosity will make a real difference to his future quality of life."

Mr Ogilvie's family said they had been left "truly humbled" by the kindness of donors, "many of whom have never met our family".

The breakthrough comes after riots erupted in Belfast over the attack, with vehicles and bins lit on fire in the street, and houses torched as fury boiled over.

There were 35 arrests made after the disorder, with 23 people charged to date.

Alodid, 30, appeared at Belfast Magistrates' Court in connection with the alleged stabbing last week.

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The Sudanese man entered Northern Ireland across the Irish border by bus in February 2023, having flown to Dublin from Paris.

He then claimed asylum and was granted leave to remain in the UK until 2028.

The entry of the alleged attacker raised questions over how Alodid was able to enter the UK, with a Government source vowing to crack down on the land border.

In a statement previously shared by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), his family condemned violence and hailed migrants' contribution to the hospitality sector.

"We want to make it absolutely clear that overnight unrest is not welcome, and peaceful protest is the only way forward," they said.

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

THe PSNI has stressed there was "no evidence" of the disorder being organised by loyalist paramilitaries or Irish nationalist groups.

One protester in east Belfast, John Keenan, told the BBC he condemned the violence but felt it was "spontaneous".

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