Mum’s terror at finding thief holding knife to baby’s throat

A BELFAST mum has told of her horror at waking to find a burglar holding a knife to the throat of her baby son.

Nicole McGrillen’s nightmare ordeal began when two men broke into her family home in the Stranmillis area in the early hours of yesterday morning.

She woke to find one man holding a knife to her six-monthold son’s neck and another standing over her and her partner while also brandishing a knife.

In a Facebook post, the shocked mother said: “Absolutely heartbroken.

“Terrifying having to beg for the life of your baby and your own when you are so helpless.

“What scumbags would hold a knife to a six-month-old baby’s neck and threaten their life?” Ms McGrillen said the men stole a lot of items, including Christmas presents for her son.

“Things are replaceable,” she added.

“Just thanking my lucky stars I have my family safe, absolutely terrifying. Someone was definitely watching over us all, thank God.”

Two men were later arrested. The PSNI has appealed for anyone with information to contact its officers.

Detective Sergeant Philip McCullagh said: “Police received a report at around 2.10am that two males had gained entry into a house in the Stranmillis Gardens area occupied by three women, one man and two children.

“The males were reported to be armed with knives taken from the kitchen of the property.

“When confronted by one of the female occupants, the two males fled the scene with a number of items including a laptop, mobile phone and a purse.

“Police subsequently stopped two men nearby who matched the description given by the occupant and a number of items were recovered.

Two men aged 25 and 30 were arrested on suspicion of a number of offences including aggravated burglary and assault on police and are currently in custody helping police with their inquiries.”

Police have asked anyone with information to contact the Reducing Offending Unit.

Witnesses are asked to call 101 quoting reference number 71 of 23/11/2017 or contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.