Northern Ireland

Man stabbed after confronting intruder

A man in his fifties has been stabbed after confronting a robber in the Grangewood Road area of Dundonald
A man in his fifties has been stabbed after confronting a robber in the Grangewood Road area of Dundonald A man in his fifties has been stabbed after confronting a robber in the Grangewood Road area of Dundonald

A MAN is recovering in hospital after being stabbed in the garden of his east Belfast home as he confronted a robber.

Police have issued an appeal for witnesses after the victim, aged in his fifties, was stabbed in the stomach and received a head wound in the attack at his Dundonald home yesterday morning.

The PSNI said the victim confronted a man, aged in his twenties, in the garden of his Grangewood Road home just before 9.30am.

The victim's injuries are thought to be serious but not life threatening.

Police appealed to anyone who may have seen a man in his twenties acting suspiciously in the Grangewood Road, Dunlady Road or Ballyregan Road areas to contact officers.

"Anyone with information or CCTV covering their house which could have captured images during the time period we are most interested in, should contact police on the non-emergency number 101, quoting reference 275 of 16/05/18," a spokesman said.

DUP MLA Joanne Bunting said it was "a truly shocking and appalling incident".

"Grangewood is a quiet residential area and this news will be worrying for the residents," she said.

"My first thoughts are with the victim and his family. I trust and pray he will make a full and speedy recovery.

"I would appeal to the Dundonald community to be careful and if you see anyone acting suspiciously in your neighbourhood, or intruding on your property, please call the police in the first instance.

"It is important that nobody is put in harm's way even though your first instinct may be to protect your property," she added.