Dad-of-three recovering after Pilton stabbing

The victim was attacked in West Pilton Place. Picture: Scott Taylor

The 53-year-old, named locally as John O’Brien, is understood to have been attacked in West Pilton Place following an altercation outside his house.

He was rushed to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary via a police escort after suffering multiple stab wounds to the stomach and elsewhere on his body.

Mr O’Brien is believed to have required surgery for the injuries he sustained after an argument with a group of young men who had gone to his door on Thursday afternoon.

Police cordoned off the street for several hours while they launched a major investigation into the serious assault.

Residents said they could see officers searching back gardens with a sniffer dog. There were also reports of police searching ground in nearby West Pilton Grove after a tip-off about one of the suspects.

A police spokeswoman said: “The incident occurred at around 5pm when a 53-year-old man was attacked. He was taken to the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary by the Scottish Ambulance Service where he continues to be treated. Inquiries are currently ongoing.”

The incident happened just streets away from West Pilton Park, where Chinese takeaway owner Jie Yu was stabbed in October.

The father-of-three, known to locals as Jack, was attacked after confronting two men who had stolen his car from nearby Peking Garden takeaway in Ferry Road Drive. He suffered ten serious wounds, including a near-fatal slash to his neck.

Gary Reid, 19, and James Hogg, 24, were jailed for seven and eight years respectively for the attack. Reid, whose brother John Reid was jailed in 2010 for the killing of Chinese takeaway driver Simon San in Lochend, admitted that his actions were racially motivated.

The shock incident led to calls for action to tackle 
antisocial behaviour in the area.

The police teamed up with the city council to launch the Stronger North initiative, set up to boost the fortunes of north Edinburgh districts such as West Pilton. Talks have been held with court representatives in a bid to beef up punishments for juvenile offenders.

Frances Durie, chairwoman of West Pilton and West Granton community council, said she was horrified to hear about the stabbing on Thursday.

She said: “We are living in a violent world. It has been a terrible time for Pilton. I don’t know what the answer is.”

Local resident June Hoy called for tougher action from the justice system.

In an online post, she said: “Let’s not forget the decent community who at the drop of a hat came out in droves to look for a missing child. The police are trying, it’s the courts who are letting us down.”

Anyone with information about the incident on Thursday is asked to contact police on 101 or anonymous hotline Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.