A man charged with the murder of 21-year-old film student Finbar Sullivan appeared in court yesterday. Oliuwadamilola Ogunyankinnu, 27, confirmed his name at Stratford Magistrates’ Court. The case was deemed too serious for magistrates and was sent to the Old Bailey, with Ogunyankinnu remanded in custody to appear on 15 April.
Finbar, a London Screen Academy student, was fatally stabbed at Primrose Hill on 7 April. His father, Christopher Sullivan, shared a heartbreaking account of the moment he received the devastating news. “I asked them, can you just let me through? Let me go see my son. I just want to hold his hand before he dies,” Christopher revealed. “Then the CID came and said, ‘Mr Sullivan, your son’s dead.’ He had bled to death. He’d been stabbed – I think from behind.”
Christopher described his close bond with Finbar, saying they were “like best friends” living alone in Maida Vale.
Christopher Sullivan also criticised the Metropolitan Police’s response to the incident, addressing Met Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley directly. “You’re doing a terrible job. If there’d been police on the street, this wouldn’t have happened. They should have had a dozen officers just walking round the park. Why not? It could have stopped the fight or saved my son.”
The Metropolitan Police responded: “Our thoughts are with Finbar’s family. A man is in court charged with his murder. We have increased patrols in Primrose Hill and integrated Royal Parks officers into local policing teams.”
Christopher and Finbar’s mother Leah are left shattered by the loss of their only son. Christopher issued a warning to other parents about the dangers of knife crime. “Don’t just be careful – it can happen anywhere, even the most peaceful places. Check your kids before they leave the house. Make sure they don’t have knives. You don’t want to end up with the pain I’m living with.”
The tragedy has left Christopher struggling to cope. “Everything was taken away from me.”
Originally published by UKNIP.
