A man from Belfast who was recently left seriously injured in an alleged knife attack has a disturbing history of violence as a past victim of a savage assault that took place in Scotland more than two decades ago.
Stephen Ogilvie, 44, was reportedly subjected to a horrific ordeal in 2001 while staying in a flat in Livingston, Scotland, after relocating from Northern Ireland.
At the time, he became the victim of a drug-fuelled attack carried out by David McLeave, then a 21-year-old drug dealer.
Drug-Fuelled Assault Involving Fire, Drugs And Video Recording
Court accounts from the earlier case revealed that McLeave had given Ogilvie the drug GHB before the violence escalated dramatically.
He was also burned between the toes with a lit cigarette during the attack.
The abuse then intensified when Ogilvie was allegedly stripped unconscious, doused in aftershave, and set on fire inside the flat.
Reports from the time state that he regained consciousness while his head and groin were engulfed in flames.
In an even more disturbing detail presented to the court, the attack was reportedly filmed by McLeave.
Abduction Claims And Escape Back To Northern Ireland
Fearing for his life, Ogilvie later fled back to Northern Ireland.
He told authorities he had also been forcibly taken in a car by associates of McLeave, identified as Barry and Paul Campbell.
His account of the ordeal painted a picture of sustained intimidation and control by a group linked to drug activity in Scotland at the time.
Jail Sentences Handed Down After High Court Trial
Following a High Court trial in Edinburgh, David McLeave was sentenced to 14 years in prison in April 2003 for his role in the attack.
At the time of sentencing, the court also dealt with several associates linked to the wider criminal network.
Paul Campbell, Thomas Irvine, Edward Lindsay and Lee Kingham were all jailed for drug-related offences, while Barry Campbell received a six-year sentence for his role in Ogilvie’s abduction and firearms possession.
During proceedings, the judge condemned the impact of the gang’s actions, stating that their involvement in drug trafficking had inflicted widespread harm on communities in Edinburgh.
Fresh Violence In Belfast Reignites Public Attention
The past case has resurfaced in public discussion following a recent violent incident in Belfast involving Ogilvie.
On Monday night, he was seriously injured in an alleged knife attack that left him with severe wounds, including the loss of his left eye and injuries to his neck and back.
Sudanese asylum seeker Hadi Alodid, 30, has been charged in connection with the incident, including attempted murder and possession of a knife.
Court Appearance And Alleged Statements Under Scrutiny
Alodid appeared before Belfast Magistrates’ Court via video link, where he did not respond to the charges when they were read through an interpreter.
He has been remanded in custody.
Court proceedings also heard claims that, while receiving treatment in hospital for a hand injury, he allegedly made threatening remarks including references to killing.
District Judge Stephen Keown refused bail, citing concerns over potential unrest and heightened public tension surrounding the case.
Unrest In Belfast And Family Appeal For Calm
The stabbing has triggered nights of unrest across parts of Belfast, with reports of fires, attacks on property, and clashes involving police.
Vehicles and buses were set alight, and officers faced projectiles including bricks and fireworks during confrontations.
Amid the chaos, Ogilvie’s family issued a public statement through police expressing distress over the circulation of misinformation linked to the incident.
They described the situation as deeply upsetting and urged an end to disorder.
The family stressed that peaceful protest was the only acceptable response and warned against attempts to use the incident to fuel division or hostility, adding that the violence had left them devastated.
They also highlighted the contribution of migrant communities to public life in the UK, urging unity rather than escalation in the wake of the attack.
