Paul Weller and Suggs were among hundreds who gathered on Primrose Hill to pay tribute to Finbar Sullivan, a 19-year-old film student stabbed to death while testing a new camera at the iconic London viewpoint.
Vigil on Primrose Hill
Madness frontman Graham ‘Suggs’ McPherson performed It Must Be Love as balloons were released in memory of Sullivan, who was stabbed during a fight on April 7. Other notable attendees included Paul Weller, Dexys Midnight Runners frontman Kevin Rowland, Primal Scream frontman Bobby Gillespie, and The Sex Pistols bassist Glen Matlock.
Dozens of candles and bunches of flowers were placed at the park gates, alongside pictures of Sullivan. His favorite songs were sung, and a minute’s silence was observed.
A Promising Student
Sullivan, known as Fin to friends, was a student at the London Screen Academy. He had gone to Primrose Hill to test a new birthday camera. His father, Chris Sullivan, a club promoter and founder of the Wag Club, revealed that his son dreamed of following in the footsteps of his grandfather, cameraman Michael Seresin, who worked on Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban and Rambo III.
After the vigil, Chris Sullivan said: ‘This is subsequent to my son being stabbed very near this spot to death… on the 7th April. We decided to have a little tribute to him and get all these people together.’ He added: ‘I’m so impressed to see the diaspora of people, ages, races, colours and creeds, and they did us proud. So I think Finbar’s legacy should be that, unity and love and peace.’
Describing his son as ‘full of jokes’ and a ‘really loving person’, Sullivan said: ‘He was all I ever thought about. So it’s like as if you have both your legs cut off, you know, you always remember they’re gone, and you never forget them, but it will always be difficult to deal with. I’m not expecting an easy journey.’
He also noted that his son had recently worked on a film with Joe Corre, son of Vivienne Westwood.
Charges Filed
Three men have been charged with Sullivan’s murder: Ernest Boateng, 25; Alexis Bidace, 25; and Oliuwadamilola Ogunyankinnu, 27. A fourth man, Khalid Abdulqadir, 18, faces charges of causing grievous bodily harm with intent to a second alleged victim, violent disorder, and possession of a knife in connection with the same incident.
