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One of the tributes from Martin’s friends at a shrine on Tollington Way |
RIOT COPS STOP GANG 'REVENGE'
Special unit called in after boy’s fatal stabbing
ANTI-RIOT police have been dispatched to Finsbury Park to stop youths seeking street justice over the killing of 14-year-old Martin Dinnegan.
The schoolboy died after being stabbed in the back surrounded by up to 20 youths on Tuesday night at the junction of Tollington Way and Axminster Road in Holloway.
Now a squad of officers from the Met’s Territorial Support Group, specially trained for public order situations and anti-terrorism, has been drafted in to prevent violence flaring.
Superintendent Alan Baldwin, in charge of the operation, said: “The Territorial Support Group continue to work across the borough.
“That will mean that people who fall into a certain category, regardless of what colour they are, will be stopped and searched.
“On my orders, TSG moved into the area of Finsbury Park and carried out 38 stopand searches and arrested six people who were found to be carrying weapons.
“I won’t tolerate people carrying weapons and looking for trouble, it’s as simple as that.”
He added: “Escalation will mean only one thing: more ruined lives.
“We have had a number of calls in the past 24 hours from people who are worried.”
The TSG officers have been concentrating on the eastern end of the Finsbury Park ward and its border with Highbury West.
The special order to keep TSG in the borough, known as a Section 60, is reassessed every 24 hours.
It has emerged that two good samaritans battled in vain to save Martin’s life.
A witness told how the men gave Martin the kiss of life and heart massage as he lay dying.
Chip shop owner Ahmet Kazim, 64, said: “There were about 50 people outside. I saw the boy lying on the floor not moving at all.
“Two guys in their 30s were helping.
“ The boy was as pale as anything and people were just milling around apart from these guys who were trying their hardest to save him.”
Martin, who lived with his parents, three brothers and two sisters, at the family home near Fonthill Road, Finsbury Park, had been with friends, but left to buy chips.
Officers were called to the scene at around 8.30pm.
A police spokeswoman said: “There was an altercation with another group of approximately 15 to 20 youths following a verbal exchange.”
Angela Fitzgerald, 53, a family friend, said: “My son, Sean, said they knew Martin was dead when they saw blood coming out of his back. They were calling ‘wake up, wake up’ but his eyes were just staring. Sean is traumatised and we can’t believe it has happened.”
Paramedics fought to save Martin, who attended St Aloysius Roman Catholic College in Highgate, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.
A post mortem gave cause of death as stab wounds.
Police have arrested a 15-year-old boy, who was last night (Thursday) in custody at a north London police station.
They remain open-minded about a possible motive and detectives say they still need witnesses to come forward.
Martin’s father, James, 42, a masonry worker, said: “All his friends have been crying and just can’t believe it.
“They are all around the same age and I’ve been trying to say to them ‘don’t let this happen to you’.
“Martin was not in a gang and did not deserve what he got.
“But how can you defend yourself when you’ve been stabbed in the back?
“I only saw him and hour before it happen when he was going to the Cornwallis adventure playground.
“Martin was a special boy who was bright and had a lot going for him. Everybody loved him.”
He added: “These boys just need to stop carrying knives and there needs to be more stop and search.”
Danny Coyle, deputy headteacher of St Aloysius, in Hornsey Lane, said: “The whole school is extremely shocked and saddened by his loss.
“He had just finished his SATs and was looking forward to Key Stage 4 – he wanted to attend college to learn a trade.”
The wall of a derelict pub in Tollington Way has become a shrine to
Martin, who was a Celtic fan.
Mourners included school friends who were bussed to the scene yesterday (Thursday) afternoon to lay flowers and were each thanked by Martin’s mother, Lorraine, 39, with a small kiss.
A card on a bouquet read: “Martin, remember a thousand years on earth is one day in heaven. It won’t be long until we are all together. You will be sorely missed. From your Mum, Dad, James, Anthony, Gerald, Lorraine, Leeanna. We will love you forever xxxxxx.”
Martin’s funeral is being arranged by Father David Ardagh-Walter at St Mellitus Roman Catholic Church in Finsbury Park, although no date has been arranged.
Supt Alan Baldwin said a campaign of anti-knife education continues in Islington’s schools and youth clubs and stressed that knife crime in the borough has reduced.
The investigation into Martin’s death is being led by Detective Superintendent Richard Heselden of the Homicide and Serious Crime Command.
Witnesses are asked to call the incident room on 020 8345 3715 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. |
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