British Servicemen Cleared Of Cyprus Brawl

Nine British soliders who had just finished a front-line tour of duty have been acquitted of starting a brawl at a resort in Cyprus.

The servicemen had been celebrating the end of dangerous postings to Iraq and Afghanistan and were set to return to the UK when the "mass brawl" broke out at the Bedrock Inn, Ayia Napa, on February 2.

Tables, chairs and bottles flew as soldiers clashed with locals, leaving four people - two soldiers, the bar owner and a local - injured.

The owner of Bedrock Bar, Kyriakos Hadjiyiannis, told the court that 20 soldiers "smashed everything in sight" and that a chair was broken over his head.

It has not been established what initially caused the fracas on the night in question, but it is understood that one individual who came under attack almost lost his eyesight.

Chief Constable Thansis Loizou of Famagusta CID told the court that he was "sure" the accused were responsible.

However, Judge Elias Georgiou delivered 'not guilty' verdicts against all nine soldiers from the 2nd Royal Regiment of Fusiliers at Famagusta District Court.

Fusilier William Sewell, 21, from Manchester, was cleared of grievous bodily harm, malicious damage and breach of the peace.

Fusiliers David Ramage, 21, from Manchester and Daniel Brayne, 22, from Birmingham, were cleared of charges of assault occasioning actual bodily harm as well as malicious damage and breach of the peace.

Fusiliers Damien Heywood, 27, Andy Evans, 21, and Dean Rushton, 21, all from Manchester, Gary Farrell, 23, from Newcastle upon Tyne, Christopher Wenham, 19, from London and Ashley Hughes, 19, from Birmingham, were each acquitted of malicious damage and breach of the peace.

Captain Nick Ulvert, a spokesman for British Forces in Cyprus said the verdict was "fantastic news".

"We are absolutely delighted. It has been a long process and a huge pressure," he added.

Captain Ulvert said that the soldiers had been disciplined for visiting the Bedrock Bar, which is "out of bounds".

It is understood there have been "simmering" tensions between British soldiers and locals for some time in Ayia Napa.

The soldiers will now be allowed to rejoin their units in the UK, which are currently on guard duty at royal residences.

A spokesman for the Ministry of Defence said: "We extend our sympathies to those affected by this incident."

He said the conclusion of the case meant that the Army could consider if "internal administrative action" should follow.

Central Ayia Napa was ruled off-limits to British servicemen after the rape and murder of Danish tour guide Louise Jensen by soldiers in 1994.

Three British soldiers were found guilty of killing the young Danish woman who was working as a tour operator in Cyprus in what was described as one of the most brutal crimes the island has known.

Louise Jensen was so disfigured by the attack that she had to be identified by her rings.

The court was told how in September 1994 the soldiers, all Royal Green Jackets, had abducted Louise Jensen, 23, after a drunken binge in a nearby resort. They knocked her off her boyfriend's motor bike, bundled her into their vehicle and repeatedly sexually assaulted her, before burying her "in panic".

The three soldiers convicted served 12 years in prison for the crime.

(DS)