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Hope Street actor Finnian Garbutt 'in last stages' of his life

Ross McKeeBBC News NI
News imageBBC/Long Story TV/Peter Marley Finnian Garbutt, a man with dark hair, wearing a white shirt with black tie and a black support vest with the words police on it. He is wearing a black watch on his left wrist and there is a brown wooden door in the background.BBC/Long Story TV/Peter Marley
Finnian Garbutt has played police constable Ryan Power in the BBC Northern Ireland police drama Hope Street which is filmed in Donaghadee, County Down

An actor who stars in the BBC Northern Ireland police drama Hope Street, has said he is entering the "last stages" of his life.

Finnian Garbutt was diagnosed with skin cancer four years ago.

He posted on social media that "scans have shown that the cancer has progressed rapidly in my body".

Garbutt has played police constable Ryan Power in Hope Street, which has spanned five seasons and is filmed in Donaghadee, County Down.

In a statement posted on social media, Garbutt said that in "the last month or so I have been having quite a bit of pain in my back and hip".

"My cancer team admitted me the other day for observations and to do a few scans," he said.

"Unfortunately the scans have shown that the cancer has progressed rapidly in my body and I am now entering the last stages of my life.

"I'm putting this out there as it is really difficult to tell people individually and I hope now it's in the open then I can enjoy the time with my amazing family and friends."

He said that since being diagnosed four years ago, he had "achieved so many of my life goals – 30 episodes in a TV show, being the lead in a movie (that should be out soon), buying my own house, marrying my best friend and becoming a father to the most incredible baby girl who never fails to make me smile".

Garbutt, born in Bangor, County Down, thanked all those people that "have reached out over the years and supported me and my family".

"If anyone wants to meet up for a pint, coffee or general bit of craic, please reach out and we can try and make it work," he added.

News imageBBC/Long Story TV/Peter Marley Four actors from Hope Street. A man with dark hair and a beard, white shirt and black tie, a woman with brown hair a white blouse and dark tie, a woman with blonde hair a white blouse and black tie, and a man (Finnian Garbutt) with dark hair, wearing a white shirt and black tie.BBC/Long Story TV/Peter Marley
Hope Street has spanned five seasons and is set in the fictional coastal town of Port Devine

Star of Romeo and Juliet

A BBC spokesperson said: "Finnian has been such an important part of Hope Street's success.

"He is very much in our thoughts."

Garbutt graduated from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in July 2019.

He has previously played the role of Benvolio in Romeo and Juliet at the Lyric Theatre in Belfast and appeared in the BBC television hospital series Casualty.

Garbutt also features as Raymond in the film Housejackers, which premiered at the Belfast Film Festival last year.