A mother in Northern Ireland has lost her life defending her daughter from a violent knife attack on Christmas day.

According to the Mirror, Jayne Reat was hosting a holiday party at her home in Lisburn when the festivities turned violent, and her 21-year-old daughter Charlotte became the target of a knife attack.

It is unclear what prompted the attack, and it is also not yet known if the suspect was a party guest or an intruder to the home in a quiet neighborhood.

“The first we knew of it was when we heard the sirens and we nipped out. It was freezing and we saw the police arresting a man,” a neighbor told the Belfast Telegraph.

“We didn’t realise how serious it was until it appeared on the news. It’s a terrible tragedy for the family – they’ll never get over it.”

According to ITV, a 19-year-old man has been arrested in connection to the fatal attack.

On the evening of December 25, Charlotte Reat, 21, posted a message on Facebook addressing the tragedy and revealing that she was seriously injured in the attack.

Details about the stabbing, the suspect, and the motive for the violent attack remain scarce as neighbors are reeling from the horrific Christmas Day violence.

“I saw the flashing lights, the ambulances, police cars and the crime scene investigators arrive. I’m completely in shock,” an unidentified neighbor told the BBC.

“It makes you feel lucky for what you have… it’s really bad.”

[Feature image: Facebook/Jayne and Charlotte Reat]