*The incident occurred in August.
A 30-year-old Ennis man who is accused of threatening a hitch-hiker that he would set him alight if he did not pay money for his lift now faces a ‘petrol bomb’ charge.
At Ennis District Court, the Book of Evidence was served on Brian Joyce of St Enda’s, Beechpark, Ennis concerning the incident on August 13th last.
The Book of Evidence contains the additional charge and after reading the new charge against Mr Joyce, Judge Alec Gabbett commented “this is a petrol bomb charge”.
In the new charge, Mr Joyce is charged with, while committing an alleged offence of threatening to kill John Hourihan at Monreel South, Ennistymon on August 13th, did produce a Powerade bottle filled with petrol contrary to Section 11 of the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act.
Garda Amy O’Connor told the court that Mr Joyce made no reply after charge and caution.
After the Book of Evidence was served, Judge Alec Gabbett sent Mr Joyce forward to Ennis Circuit Court for trial with the next sessions due to be heard early next year.
Mr Joyce has remained on remand in custody at Limerick prison since August after failing to secure bail at a contested bail hearing arising from the incident.
At the bail hearing, Garda Amy O’Connor said that when Mr Joyce made the alleged ‘light you up’ threat to John Hourihan, Mr Joyce’s pregnant partner was driving and their two young children aged seven and nine were back seat passengers along with two puppy dogs.
Garda O’Connor said Mr Hourihan was hitch-hiking to Lahinch out of Ennis at around 5.30pm on August 13th when he was picked up.
Garda O’Connor said that Mr Hourihan got into the back seat and front seat passenger, Brian Joyce “got very aggressive during the journey towards the alleged injured party and said he wanted money for giving him a lift”.
Garda O’Connor said that it will be alleged that after Mr Hourihan refused this, “Mr Joyce pulled out a Powerade bottle full of petrol and threatened Mr Hourihan that he would set him alight if he did not pay them money”.
Garda O’Connor said that Mr Hourihan managed to snatch the bottle from Brian Joyce and demanded that the car be stopped.
Garda O’Connor said that the car was stopped and the alleged injured party got out before the silver Golf drove off. The court was told that these are only allegations against Mr Joyce and Mr Joyce is entitled to the presumption of innocence.
In the case, Mr Joyce is also charged with threatening to kill or cause serious harm to John Hourihan between Lahinch Rd, Ennis and Monreel South, Ennistymon on the N85 on August 13th last.
