Rhyan Cooper, a 29-year-old pub patron, has been found guilty of manslaughter after shoving his older friend – only for him to die just days later.
Thomas Tierney, 54, was asked to leave a Stockton pub after being forcibly shoved by drinking buddy, Cooper, on September 1, 2023. At midnight, Cooper pushed Tierney in the chest, who ‘met the floor’ on Stockton High Street. This resulted in Tierney sustaining serious injuries of a fractured skull and severe brain injuries, which were named as his cause of his death on September 5.
Described as a “kind, gentle [and] loving brother and son” who was “loved by everyone”, Tierney was said to not “hurt anything or anyone”. When the accused was questioned by two women at the time of the assault, and then by the police, Cooper said: “I do believe I may have pushed him, but there was a sign on the corner, so he may have hit that”.
The women, who were enjoying a girls’ night out together, witnessed Cooper shoving the older patron, with one claiming her recollection of the event was crystal clear. At the time, Cheryl Gunn said that despite being tipsy after a night of drinking, her memory was “100%” accurate. Gunn’s friend added that she saw Tierney “hit the floor like a plank of wood” and shared that “the younger man [Cooper] seemed angry”.
Cooper later claimed the push was”self-defence” and accused the late Tierney of pushing him first. A court heard how Tierney was a even-tempered man and CCTV from the Blue Post pub in Stockton appeared to show Cooper attacking his companion in the face with a straw before continuously attempting to steal away his drinking pal’s glass.
Cooper said he was ready to head home after consuming ‘seven or eight pints’ and proceeded to place his empty pint glass on Mr Tierney’s head, which spilt beer all over his friend. In response, Tierney then poured the rest of his pint over Cooper. This led to both men being thrown out of the establishment.
In the CCTV footage, Tierney can be seen to be walking down an alleyway, away from his friend. On Wednesday, the court jury made a unanimous vote. Taking two hours to decide a verdict, that afternoon, the Judge – Jonathon Carroll – granted Cooper bail until his sentencing in June.
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