Clare man admits threatening to set hitch-hiker in payment row

A 30-year-old Clare man has admitted threatening to set a hitch-hiker 'alight' 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 a charge of threatening to kill or cause serious harm to John Hourihan between Lahinch Road Ennis and Monreel South, Ennistymon on the N85 on August 13 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 7 and 9 were back seat passengers along with two puppy dogs.

Previously, Ennis District Court heard, Mr Hourihan was hitch-hiking to Lahinch out of Ennis at around 5.30pm on August 13, 2024 when he was picked up.

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At a bail hearing last year, Garda Amy O’Connor said that Mr Hourihan got into the back seat and that the front seat passenger, Brian Joyce “got very aggressive during the journey.

At one point, he told the injured party and said he wanted money for giving him a lift and Garda O’Connor said that it is the State case 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 Mr Joyce also threatened Mr Hourihan that if his partner was not in the car, he would kill him.

The court heard Mr Hourihan managed to snatch the bottle from Brian Joyce and that he then demanded that the car be stopped. 

Garda O’Connor said that the car was stopped and Mr Hourihan got out before the silver Volkswagen Golf was driven off.

She said that when the 171 CE-registered 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 25, for mention.