The grieving parents of a 21-year-old filmmaking student stabbed to death in a London park have spoken publicly for the first time about the devastating loss of their son, describing how their lives have been “changed forever” by the senseless violence that took him away.

Finbar Sullivan, known affectionately to friends and family as Fin, died after a fight erupted at Primrose Hill in North London on the evening of April 7.

The aspiring filmmaker had reportedly gone to the popular beauty spot to test a new camera he had recently received for his birthday — a gift that reflected his lifelong obsession with film, creativity, and storytelling.

Instead, the evening ended in horror.

Hundreds of mourners gathered at Primrose Hill this week for an emotional candlelit vigil honoring the young student, whose death has shaken London’s creative community and left his loved ones struggling to process the unimaginable tragedy.

Flowers, photographs, handwritten notes, and candles lined the gates of the park as friends, classmates, musicians, and relatives came together to celebrate Finbar’s life.

The moving tribute included performances from several well-known figures from Britain’s music scene, including Madness frontman Graham “Suggs” McPherson, who sang It Must Be Love as balloons were released into the evening sky.

Finbar’s parents, Chris Sullivan and Leah Seresin, stood together overlooking the hill where their son lost his life, speaking through tears as they remembered the young man they say brought joy and warmth to everyone around him.

“I wake up every morning and mornings are the worst,” Leah told BBC Breakfast.

“For that split second, it hasn’t happened yet. Then reality comes back.”

She described the grief as overwhelming and permanent.

“My life has changed forever,” she said quietly. “But it’s not gone because if I gave up, Fin would be so disappointed in me. I don’t want hate coming from this.”

Her husband Chris Sullivan, a well-known London club promoter and founder of the iconic Wag Club, admitted he still struggles to accept what happened.

“The main thing is the complete inability to understand it,” he said.

“I’m a rational person, but I still can’t believe it. I can’t make sense of it.”

Friends described Finbar as charismatic, funny, and deeply passionate about filmmaking from an early age.

His family said his fascination with movies began almost as soon as he could walk.

Chris explained that Finbar spent much of his childhood filming videos, editing clips, and experimenting creatively online.

“When he was about ten years old, he started posting trainer videos on something called the ‘Finster channel,’” his father recalled with a sad smile.

“He later deleted them because he became embarrassed by them, but filmmaking was always in him.”

The young student was attending the London Screen Academy and had recently collaborated on projects connected to fashion and music circles in London.

According to his father, Finbar had just completed work with Joe Corre, the son of fashion designer Vivienne Westwood, on a film project shortly before his death.

Creativity ran deep in the family.

Finbar’s grandfather, renowned cinematographer Michael Seresin, worked on major Hollywood productions including Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban and Rambo III.

But Chris insisted his son’s love of film came naturally.

“He would have done this no matter what,” he said. “He was obsessed with movies. That’s all we ever did together — watch films, talk about films, dream about films.”

At Tuesday night’s vigil, that passion and warmth were reflected in the enormous crowd that gathered despite the cold evening weather.

Among those attending were musician Paul Weller, Dexys Midnight Runners singer Kevin Rowland, Primal Scream frontman Bobby Gillespie, and Sex Pistols bassist Glen Matlock.

Many in attendance had never met Finbar personally but came to show solidarity with his grieving family and outrage over the violence that ended his life.

As darkness fell over Primrose Hill, mourners sang some of Finbar’s favorite songs before holding a minute of silence.

Dozens openly wept.

Chris Sullivan addressed the crowd, thanking everyone for coming and expressing amazement at the diversity of people who gathered in his son’s memory.

“I’m so impressed to see people of all ages, races, colors, and creeds here tonight,” he said.

“They did us proud.”

He added that he hoped Finbar’s legacy would ultimately become “unity and love and peace.”

Those close to the family say the scale of support does not surprise them.

“Fin was like a magnet for people,” Chris said.

“He was full of jokes. He was loving. He was the kind of person who made people feel better just by being around him.”

The father struggled to contain his emotions as he described life without his son.

“He was all I ever thought about,” he admitted.

“It’s like having both your legs cut off. You always know they’re gone. You never stop feeling it.”

Police say the fatal stabbing happened during a violent confrontation involving multiple people near the viewpoint at Primrose Hill shortly after sunset on April 7.

Emergency services rushed to the scene after reports of violence broke out in the crowded park.

Finbar suffered fatal stab wounds during the incident and later died despite desperate efforts to save him.

Authorities have since charged three men with murder.

Ernest Boateng, 25, Alexis Bidace, 25, and Oliuwadamilola Ogunyankinnu, 27, have all appeared in court accused of involvement in the killing.

A fourth man, 18-year-old Khalid Abdulqadir, has been separately charged with causing grievous bodily harm with intent to another alleged victim, violent disorder, and possession of a knife.

All four defendants remain in custody as investigations continue.

Detectives have not publicly revealed what sparked the violence that night, though witnesses described chaotic scenes as panic spread through the park.

The tragedy has reignited debate in Britain surrounding knife crime and public safety, particularly in London, where fatal stabbings involving young people continue to dominate headlines.

For Finbar’s family, however, the political debate feels secondary to the unbearable personal loss.

Leah said she refuses to allow bitterness to consume her despite the pain.

“I don’t want hate,” she repeated.

“I just want people to remember who Fin was.”

Friends described him as someone who radiated kindness and enthusiasm.

Classmates at the London Screen Academy said he constantly encouraged other students and had ambitious dreams for the future.

“He genuinely believed in people,” one friend said during the vigil.

“He made you feel like your ideas mattered.”

Others recalled how he could instantly make strangers laugh with his humor and energy.

“He was impossible not to like,” another mourner said.

The loss has devastated not only his family but also London’s creative community, where Finbar had already begun building connections despite his young age.

His death has become another painful reminder of how quickly lives can be destroyed by violence.

At Primrose Hill this week, mourners stood silently looking out across the London skyline as balloons drifted upward into the night.

For many, the contrast between the peaceful setting and the brutality of what happened there was almost impossible to comprehend.

Chris Sullivan said he knows the road ahead will be long and painful.

“I’m not expecting an easy journey,” he admitted.

“But I want people to remember Fin for who he was — not for how he died.”

As candles flickered in the darkness and music echoed softly across the hill, those gathered held tightly to memories of a talented young filmmaker whose life was only just beginning.

A son.

A friend.

A dreamer.

And a young man whose future was stolen in a moment of violence that his family says they may never fully understand.