Ben Stuart Tierney: Manly man knocked out cop, court told

A man has appeared in court accused of knocking a cop out cold with one punch outside a Manly pub.

Ben Stuart Tierney, 45, of Manly, outside the Sydney Police Centre at Surry Hills, where he was released on bail after being charged with assaulting two police officers on The Corso at Manly on Friday, January 22, 2021. Picture: Channel 7News

A man who allegedly knocked a police officer out cold with one punch outside a northern beaches’ pub was already out on bail on serious charges including affray, Manly Local Court has heard.

Ben Stuart Tierney, 45, is accused of punching the officer in the face on North Steyne at Manly, near The Corso, late last Friday night.

The male senior constable from Manly police station, was out conducting licensing checks on pubs with another officer and was walking on the footpath outside the venues when the alleged assault occurred.

Police from Manly were conducting licensing checks at venues on The Corso, Manly, when they were allegedly assaulted on Friday night. File picture: Manly Daily

Police will allege that Mr Tierney, who has been charged with one count of assault police officer in execution of duty causing actual bodily harm and one count of assaulting a police officer, began yelling threats at about 10.40pm.

Mr Tierney then allegedly slapped one of the officers in the face, kicked him on the left knee then punched him to the left side of the head. The officer was immediately knocked unconscious.

The accused then allegedly tried to push the second officer before running away.

Police said the injured officer was taken to Royal North Shore Hospital where he had scans and was treated for the concussion and a knee injury. He is now recovering at home.

Mr Tierney, who lives at Manly, was released by Parramatta Bail Court on Saturday morning with strict bail conditions, including not leaving his home between 8pm and 8am.

But he was arrested again on Saturday after allegedly beaching a bail condition and was kept in custody by Parramatta Bail Court on Sunday.

Manly Local Court heard on Wednesday that at the time of the alleged assaults on the police officers, Mr Tierney was on bail on two serious charges — affray and carry cutting weapon upon apprehension. He has pleaded not guilty to those charges.

Ben Stuart Tierney, 45, of Manly, outside the Sydney Police Centre at Surry Hills. He is yet to enter a plea on two charges of assaulting police officers. Picture: Channel 7News

Papers tendered to court show that police allege that at Manly at 6am on October 28 last year Mr Tierney “did threaten unlawful violence towards pedestrians” and that he was carrying a large pair of tailor’s scissors when he was arrested on the Manly Beach promenade the same morning.

His Legal Aid solicitor told the court that she had not been able to receive proper instructions from Mr Tierney on Wednesday because he was not “well”.

Magistrate Bruce Williams ordered that he receive assistance with possible mental health issues.

Mr Tierney, who has not entered a plea on the assault charges, will be back in Manly Local Court on February 3.