Romario’s friends Elyse Ducan-Brown and Tyler Clancy with his mother Katrina Opia in Cornwallis Adventure Park

FRIENDS and family have launched a crowdfunder to create a youth memorial garden for two teenagers who died 13 years apart but lost their lives in similar circumstances.

Martin Dinnegan, 14, was stabbed in 2007 in Holloway after an altercation between teens on bikes, while Romario Opia, 15, died after being attacked during a clash between teens outside a school gate in Archway in 2020.

On Tuesday, which would have been Romario’s 19th birthday, his friends and family gathered at the site of the proposed memorial gardens in Cornwallis Adventure Park in Cornwallis Road, Holloway.

His mother Katrina Opia said: “Martin died around 20 years ago, but he was around the same age as my son and they both died through similar circumstances.

“So it touched me quite a lot that Romario loved Cornwallis and he was always playing around here. And then to lose him in such a way, and then to find out that Martin also used to play here and loved Cornwallis, and also passed away in the same circumstances, it seemed a fitting tribute to the both of them they have a space that they can share and people can remember them.”

Romario Opia

Currently Romario is remembered at the site with flowers and plants, while Martin already has a permanent memorial stone laid there.

Plans to improve the site – which would be a tribute to both boys but also be a space for anyone who has lost a loved one to youth violence – include planting permanent flowers and installing a privacy screen for those grieving. Plans to place a memorial bench at the site are already under way.

Tyler Clancy, a friend of Romario’s and a family friend of the Dinnegan family, launched Living Romario’s Legacy (LRL) following Romario’s death. The organisation – which is leading on the fundraiser – aims to amplify youth issues.

Mr Clancy, 20, said while the memorial would be an important part of remembering the boys, it was also the right time to examine what services are currently available for teenagers in the north of the borough, after Islington closed down Platform Youth Hub, in Hornsey Road, two years ago. He argued that with more provision for Romario, he might not have been drawn towards destructive life choices.

Martin Dinnegan

On its website, the fundraiser states: “We want to transform this space in honour of Romario Opia, Martin Dinnegan and everyone affected by knife crime. We’d like this space to be known across the borough as a sign of solidarity and togetherness against serious youth violence.”

Councillor Michelline Safi-Ngongo, executive member for children, young people and families, said: “We offer our heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Romario on the anniversary of his birthday.

“We spend more on youth services than most councils in the country. Our youth support network, which includes adventure playgrounds, youth hubs, detached youth work in the community and targeted youth support, is a vital part of supporting and nurturing our children and young people. We have developed new youth spaces on Holland Walk and on the Andover estate, and there is still a range of services on offer to young people at the former Platform Youth Hub building. We also have youth hubs such as Lift, Rosebowl and Soapbox that all of our young people can access.”

Reflecting on how life would have been different had her son not died, Ms Opia said: “I miss him so much. And I wonder, you know, how he would have looked, and what a lovely strong man he would have grown into. He was 6ft 1in at 15 and still growing. I picture him sitting up the tree with his legs dangling down. I was always walking around looking for him and he was always like high up in a tree or something. He was a funny boy.”

Details of the fundraiser at www.gofund­me.­com/f/­youth-memorial-garden-at-cornwallis-park