Welsh music star’s devastation as son is murdered in broad daylight

Mathilde Grandjean, Press Association

A 21-year-old filmmaking student who was stabbed to death in a north London park “can never be replaced”, his Welsh father has said.

Finbar Sullivan was stabbed in a fight in Primrose Hill in the early evening on Tuesday and, despite the efforts of paramedics, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Merthyr-born Chris Sullivan, a musician and founder of influential 1980s band Blue Rondo a la Turk, told the Daily Mail his son wanted to become a cameraman like his grandfather Michael Seresin – who worked on Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban and Rambo III – and 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,” the 65-year-old 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, who also founded one of London’s most famous nitespots The Wag Club, 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 – of which police said on Wednesday video footage was circulating online.

“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 rap scene’s association with gang violence, Mr Sullivan denied his son was involved in any of it.

“All I can tell you is he was the subject of an indiscriminate stabbing. He was not a gang member,” Mr Sullivan told the Daily Mail.

“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.