Three men in total were before the court following the early morning altercation which was captured on CCTV
Three men, including two service men, were sentenced today for the roles they played in an early morning fight in the centre of Belfast.
Branding the incident as a “moment of madness”, Judge Patricia Smyth imposed the sentences at Belfast Crown Court.
Royal Engineer William Robinson, 24, with an address as RAF Aldergrove in Crumlin, was handed an 18-month sentence, which was suspended for two years, for a charge of attempted grievous bodily harm with intent.
Fellow soldier Cavan Bush, 25, also with an address as RAF Aldergrove in Crumlin, was ordered to serve 100 hours community service for a charge of affray. Also handed 100 hours community service was 22-year old Peter John Tennyson from Chapel Hill Mews in Lisburn, for three count of common assault.
The violent incident occurred on Belfast’s Royal Avenue in the early hours of January 27, 2024. The altercation was captured on CCTV and showed Robinson, Bush and another man, who were all British soldiers stationed in Northern Ireland, out for the evening after celebrating a colleague’s 18th birthday.
Tennyson and his friend were also out and were walking behind the three soldiers. Judge Smyth said: “Something was said by Mr Tennyson or his friend, but most likely Mr Tennyson, which caused Mr Robinson to turn around.
“There is no doubt that the three soldiers were easily recognisable by their accents and whatever was said to them was derogatory or insulting.”
The Belfast Recorder said the verbal exchange was followed by “pushing and shoving” and that the soldier friend of Robinson and Bush tried to calm things down before Tennyson pushed Robinson twice and then punched him to the face.
The Judge said “there is no doubt that Mr Tennyson was the initial aggressor” and that “a fist fight ensued.”
Tennyson punched Bush and his soldier friend, Tennyson’s friend moved in between him and Robinson, then Robinson became engaged in a serious assault on the male during which kicks and stamps were aimed at his head whilst he was on the ground.
During the melee, Bush also threw punches at Tennyson and his friend. After the two groups separated, the soldiers made their way down Royal Avenue whilst Tennyson and his friend flagged down a passing police car.
Footage from an officer’s body-warn camera was also played to the court which showed Tennyson’s clearly wounded friend telling police ‘they jumped all over my face, mate.’
A short time later the soldiers were approached by officers outside McDonalds and arrested. Neither Robinson nor Bush – both of whom have clear criminal records – made any comment during interview.
Bush later pleaded guilty to affray while Robinson admitted a charge of attempted grievous bodily harm with intent. During the course of their investigation, CCTV of the incident was viewed and Tennyson was arrested.
Whilst he initially gave a ‘no comment’ response, after being shown the footage, he accepted it was him and said he had been drinking.
Tennyson subsequently pleaded guilty to three counts of common assault. At the time of the incident, he was the subject of a community service order and he has 20 previous convictions.
His wounded friend attended hospital following the assault and was treated for facial injuries.
“Fortunately the victim did not sustain really serious injuries. The injuries were relatively minor which were a black eye and a cut lip”, the Judge said:
She added the fact that Robinson and Bush were both defendants and victims in the case “illustrates the confused picture that emerges from an altercation between five individuals who had too much to drink taken.”
Robinson’s barrister Sean Mullan said his client was a sapper in the Royal Engineers and has won awards for his work in the Army. His role was described by Judge Smyth as a “highly specialised defence and advance search team officer”.
Via their legal teams, all three defendants expressed remorse for their actions. As she sentenced the three men, Judge Smyth said: “Had it not been for the intervention of Mr Tennyson, there would have been no incident.
“He was the cause of it and Mr Robinson reacted and lost control which he bitterly regrets. These young men were not out looking for trouble and face a huge consequence in court today.
“All these men regret what happened. It was a moment of madness under the influence of drink.”
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