The 65-year-old father of Finbar Sullivan, who was fatally stabbed in Primrose Hill last Tuesday, has spoken out against racist reactions to his son’s death.
The 21-year-old was testing a new camera with friends in the park when he was killed, with suggestions the murder was evidence of wider issues of violence plaguing the capital.
Since the killing, various media outlets were forced to disable comments after racist responses appeared regarding the suspects’ ethnicity.
Chris Sullivan told the New Journal he refuses to allow his son’s name to fuel hateful rhetoric, insisting he’s “proud” to live in a diverse London, and that Finbar will be remembered as a “beacon of peace and love”.
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.”
He stressed that the identity of his son’s killer is irrelevant to understanding the crime.
He said: “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.”
Finbar Sullivan with his father Chris and mother Leah
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Mr Sullivan argued that young people have been abandoned, unable to access housing, employment or university education, leaving them without hope for the future.
He also criticised media coverage for exacerbating the problem, with “harmful” rhetoric around knife crime.
“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,” he said.
“Imagine what it’s like when you’re 20 and you can’t walk down the street without looking over your shoulder.”
Finbar Sullivan was 21 years old when he was killed | METROPOLITAN POLICE
LATEST ON THE FINBAR SULLIVAN CASE
Mr Sullivan pointed to Conservative government cuts to youth services as a key factor, arguing teenagers have been left without safe spaces.
“They’re not safe on the street no matter where they go even in Primrose Hill, the bastion of British middle classness, good lord,” he added.
As an artist, writer and DJ, Mr Sullivan established Soho’s legendary Wag Club in 1982, and more recently founded Artists for Gaza, which has organised fundraising concerts featuring Paul Weller and Suggs from Madness.
A forthcoming event expected in May will serve as a memorial to Finbar.
A crowdfunding campaign has raised approximately £25,000 for the family since the murder.
Mr Sullivan expressed his intention to establish a charity supporting bereaved families who lack wealthy connections to help them through such tragedies.
Three men have been charged with murder – Oliuwadamilola Ogunyankinnu, 27, Alexis Bidace, 25, and Ernest Boateng, 25.
Ogunyankinnu has failed to enter a plea, however previously denied the charge at a prior court hearing.
The latter two appeared at Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday and were remanded in custody, where they did not enter any formal pleas to the charges during the short hearing.
Anna Wright, defending, said they deny participation in the alleged murder.
The men spoke only to confirm their names, addresses and age, before District Judge Daniel Benjamin remanded them to appear at the Old Bailey later today.
Additionally, Khalid Abdulqadir, 18, faces charges of grievous bodily harm with intent, violent disorder and knife possession.
He is next due to appear at Inner London Crown Court for a plea hearing on May 12.
The first man was charged on Sunday and the second on Tuesday | PA
The Met Police claim to be prioritising knife crime through targeted patrols in hotspot areas, enhanced by data-driven mapping, stop-and-search powers, and increased officer deployment to tackle serious violent offences.
While overall police-recorded knife offences fell nine per cent in England and Wales in the year ending September 2025, they remain a top priority
A Met spokesman said: “Our thoughts are with Finbar’s family and friends for their devastating loss.
“We understand the concern this incident has also caused in the wider community and have increased the number of officers on patrol in Primrose Hill to provide reassurance and respond to any offending.
“Our Royal Parks officers have been integrated into local community policing teams. In Camden, a dedicated local neighbourhood team regularly patrols Primrose Hill and surrounding areas.
“This forms part of a wider policing approach that has cut crime across the Royal Parks by 27 per cent compared with the same period last year.”