Father Of Primrose Hill Stab Victim Says: “Don’t Let My Son’s Murder Be Used By Racists”

The father of 21-year-old filmmaking student Finbar Sullivan, who was stabbed to death in an unprovoked attack in Primrose Hill, northwest London, 10 days ago, has spoken out against the use of his son’s murder to fuel racist rhetoric.

Finbar had visited the park to test out a new camera he had received for his 21st birthday. He got caught in the middle of an “eruption of extreme violence” that had nothing to do with him,and was “indiscriminately stabbed” to death after being punched and kicked to the ground.

Three men – Oliuwadamilola Ogunyankinnu, 27 (below), Alexis Bidace, 25, and Ernest Boateng, 25 – have been charged with his murder.

Finbar’s father, Chris Sullivan, 65, has this week strongly rejected attempts by social media users and certain outlets to blame minority groups or immigrants for the violence that led to his son’s death.

He said: “The hate should not be directed at minorities. It’s the government and the Met Police, they’re the ones to blame, not immigrants, not black kids”.

“If I hear anything to the contrary I’m going to really go to town with them, because Fin above all was proud to be a Londoner, proud of this multiracial, wonderful place we are.

“It doesn’t matter where [Finbar’s killer] comes from, his colour, race, creed. It’s nothing to do with that. It’s a class thing, and it’s been created by the government.”

Mr Sullivan added: “We have to look after our teenagers, they’ve just been thrown on the garbage heap. They can’t get houses, they can’t get work, can’t go to university, they’ve got no aspirations, and we’ve got a government that sanctions the killing of thousands and thousands of children [in Palestine].

“So how on earth can politicians be surprised by this? What type of message do they think that’s broadcasting to young people? It says life doesn’t mean anything, particularly if you’re not white. I think that’s what we have here. “So I hope Finbar is going to be a clarion call for all of us who can see the wood from the trees. That’s what I’m going to make it my job to do now.”

Chris Sullivan has previously written articles about knife crime and produced a documentary series called Gangs of Britain. He told the Camden New Journal how media headlines make young people feel they have to carry a knife and blamed past Conservative government cuts to youth services.

He said: “I really blame the media for a lot of what’s happened to this country. If these revolting newspapers keep on saying ‘knife crime, knife crime, knife crime’, kids are going to carry knives. Imagine what it’s like when you’re 20 and you can’t walk down the street without looking over your shoulder.

“They’re not safe on the street no matter where they go – even in Primrose Hill, the bastion of British middle classness, good lord.”

Chris Sullivan also recently set up Artists for Gaza, fundraising concerts featuring performers like Paul Weller and Suggs from Madness. The next event, expected in May, will be in Finbar’s memory.

Well, fair play to Mr. Sullivan for sticking by his values and principles. Sounds like he’s a staunch advocate of the “it’s a class problem, not a race problem” argument and there’s nothing like your own flesh and blood being stabbed to death by an ethnic minority to test that belief.

Maybe if there was a policeman or two doing the rounds, this could all have been avoided? RIP Finbar Sullivan.

For the husband who murdered his wife after recruiting their young child to ‘help get rid of mummy’, click HERE.