A 21-year-old who was stabbed to death in a London park “can never be replaced”, his grieving father says.
Finbar Sullivan was stabbed in a fight at the view point on Primrose Hill on Tuesday. Despite the efforts of paramedics, he was pronounced dead at the scene.
In an interview with the Daily Mail, Christopher Sullivan said that his son wanted to become a cinematographer like his New Zealand grandfather, Michael Seresin, who shot Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban and numerous Alan Parker films.
The filmmaking student had gone to the park to use a new camera he had got for his birthday.
“This is the worst tragedy I could ever imagine,” his father, 65, told the newspaper on Thursday.
“He’s my only son… I had him when I was 45. He can never be replaced.
“He’d just bought a new camera, we all chipped in for his 21st birthday, and he took it up there to do a bit of filming.”
Mr Sullivan, a musician and founder of 1980s band Blue Rondo a la Turk, added: “I’m so broken-hearted, I can’t believe it.
“He was the most beautiful, lovely, outgoing, loving boy. He was just a really lovely person.
“And why he was targeted, we have no idea.”
Mr Sullivan said he rushed to Primrose Hill as soon as he was informed of the incident, video footage of which police said was circulating online on Wednesday.
“I got the call at about six that he’d been stabbed, so I rushed up there,” Mr Sullivan told the Daily Mail.
“I wasn’t allowed in because it was a crime scene, and by that point he’d had 20 minutes of CPR. He’d obviously died.
“It’s Primrose Hill, for God’s sake… It’s like Hyde Park. It’s not somewhere you expect this.”
Finbar Sullivan was a student at the London Screen Academy and produced music videos for drill rap artists under the name Sully Shot It, the Daily Mail reported.
Despite the drill scene’s association with gang violence, Mr Sullivan denied his son was involved in it.
“All I can tell you is he was the subject of an indiscriminate stabbing. He was not a gang member,” said Mr Sullivan.
“He was just a little groovy 21-year-old who loved movies and making films. He didn’t drink, he didn’t smoke, he didn’t go out.
“He’d stay at home editing his films six nights a week. He wanted to follow in his [grandfather’s footsteps] and be a cameraman.
“He recently did a video for Joseph Corre, Vivienne Westwood’s son.
“We were just about to start a company together… He was going to do his showreel today with me. And now he’s dead.”
Mr Sullivan added: “His friend was stabbed in the back and hands trying to protect him.
“My son always tried to stand up for people, so maybe the attacker was bullying someone.”
The Metropolitan Police have urged “anyone who has any information, including photos or videos”, to get in touch.
Contact police on 101, quoting reference CAD 6448/07Apr. An anonymous report can be made via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
