❚ IMPOSSIBLE to imagine how many tears have been shed in the past three weeks since the violent murderous death of Finbar Sullivan on his 21st birthday while testing his new camera in broad daylight on grassy Primrose Hill. The park was packed with families enjoying the warm weather and affords one of the most inspiring vistas of the London skyline.
Our hearts go out to Fin’s parents Leah Seresin and Chris Sullivan, two of the stars of the Eighties New Romantic subcultural movement, both of whom I met in 1980 while reporting their innovative activities which recharged Britain’s ailing youth culture.
Leah is the daughter of famed cinematographer Michael Seresin and was a backing singer in Andy Polaris’s band Animal Nightlife. The dynamic and witty Chris has lit so many fuses as leader of the latin band Blue Rondo a la Turk, while hosting several new Soho club-nights, notably the Wag for 19 years, that he remains one of the few original Shapers of the 80s, who inspired my website carrying that name.
JOIN THE FUND-RAISERS
Lifelong Sullivan friend Christos Tolers writes: Fin was the anchor in his world and to see it taken away so suddenly, without warning, has been one of the most heart-breaking things I’ve been witness to in my life. It’s with love and an overwhelming sense of powerlessness that I write this. But we do what we can… There is a Gofundme page set up to help with costs for an appropriate send-off for Finbar. Here is the link –
gofund.me/5defbb114
Seven men have now been arrested for initiating the gruesome savagery on 7 April that caused Fin’s death on Primrose Hill, and some await charging at the Old Bailey. Sky News reports how “he was surrounded and subjected to a relentless barrage of kicks and stamps. Another male produced a knife and stabbed Finbar at least twice, with one wound to his thigh proving fatal. Paramedics rushed to the scene but could not save him”. Police investigations continue thanks to the number of mobile phone videos and CCTV clips that captured the chaos, one of which silenced an entire court. The Metropolitan Police forensics lab also managed to recover dozens of images from Fin’s badly damaged camera.
Fin’s parents Leah and Chris celebrating his birthday… On 7 April he was stabbed to death on Primrose Hill. [Family handout]
Chris has endured indescribable grief and anger while insisting on defending his son’s reputation as a video-maker – I was shocked to see one photograph of Dad sobbing so deeply as to reduce me too to tears. Amid the trauma he immediately initiated a charity fund-raiser to promote a violence-free society. The incident has raised questions about safety in public parks after dark, even in seemingly affluent or well-patrolled areas of north London. This new fund has raised an amazing £30,000+.
This Sunday Chris has announced a 6pm balloon send-off for Fin on Primrose Hill to honour his life. All friends and sympathisers are welcome to this vigil (see poster above).
HELP THE INVESTIGATORS
The police continue to ask anyone with relevant information to contact the force on 101, quoting reference 6448/07 April.
➢➢ Shapers of the 80s ➣➣ 