*The threat was made in August.
A 30-year old Ennis man has pleaded guilty to threatening a hitch-hiker that he would set him alight after pulling out a plastic bottle full of petrol if he did not pay money for his lift.
At Ennis Circuit Court, Brian Joyce of St Enda’s Park, Beechpark, Ennis pleaded guilty to 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 “on a full facts basis”.
Brian Joyce made the alleged ‘light you up’ threat to Mr Hourihan while 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.
Mr Hourihan was hitch-hiking to Lahinch out of Ennis at around 5.30pm on August 13th when he was picked up.
At a previous bail hearing in the District Court concerning the case, Garda Amy 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 it will be alleged that Mr Joyce of St Enda’s halting site, Beechpark, Ennis also threatened Mr Hourihan that if his partner was not in the car, he would kill him.
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 Mr Hourihan got out before the silver Golf drove off.
Garda O’Connor said that when the 171 CE Volkswagen Golf car came back down the road, Mr Hourihan had his phone out and took photos of Mr Joyce and his partner in the car.
Mr Joyce has been on remand in custody in Limerick prison since August last and counsel for Mr Joyce, Amy Nix BL stated that her client has been making progress under the care of the psychological services at Limerick prison.
Judge Francis Comerford ordered that a psychological report be available for the sentencing hearing and adjourned the case to March 25th for mention.
Previously, Mr Joyce achieved notoriety when mooning and flashing his genitals at a shocked District Court judge in a courtroom in Ennis in 2015.
