A DUBLIN MUM has issued an appeal to a man who intervened after her son was held at knifepoint in broad daylight in the capital yesterday evening.

Niamh O’Carroll has said that she wants to thank the man who rescued her son after he was threatened by another man brandishing a small knife and demanding the 13-year-old hand over money and his phone.

She said her son had left school after athletics practice and was waiting for the bus opposite the Rotunda Hospital in Parnell Square West at around 4.45pm yesterday evening when he was approached by the man.

“He was standing on the steps and a man approached him and asked him for money and his phone,” O’Carroll explained. “He could see the blade, the man had a knife in his hand and he became very scared.”

It was at this point that another man approached the situation and “angry words” were exchanged before the man who threatened Niamh’s son ran off.

The have-a-go hero who intervened then boarded the number 4 bus heading northside.

Niamh says her son described his rescuer as non-Irish, tanned and with dark hair. He was wearing headphones, a black hoodie and a backpack.

“I’m just very grateful to the man and really appreciate that somebody would stick their neck out,” O’Carroll told TheJournal.ie this afternoon.

“It’s amazing that someone would intervene and I’m really grateful to that person. It just shows faith in humanity and it’s good for my son to see this as well.”

Niamh said that if she met the man she’d like to thank him and was keen to track him down having already issued an appeal on Twitter yesterday. The tweet has so far got nearly 500 retweets:

Niamh, a communications consultant, added that her son was happy to go to school on his own again this morning but plans to come home with his usual group of friends afterwards instead of on his own.

Her son has also made a statement to gardaí who said they would examine CCTV from the area.

If you might know the man or are the person in question you can contact Niamh on Twitter.