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Connemara man jailed for threatening to kill his brother
Galway Bay fm newsroom – A Garda has predicted that a bitter feud between two Connemara brothers will end in murder.
43 year-old Joe Joyce, from Tiernee, Lettermore, was sentenced to five years in prison at Galway Circuit Criminal Court for threatening to kill or cause serious harm to his older brother, Padraig Joyce, on December 10th, 2012.
Joe Joyce also pleaded guilty to trespassing at Padraig Joyce’s home in Tiernee with a knife and a hay fork and to trespassing in such a manner as was likely to cause fear in his brother.
The court heard a bitter feud started between the brothers when their father died over 20 years ago without making a will and there had been disputes ever since over land and a house.
Garda Hogan said the accused had 38 previous convictions, including two for threatening to kill, three for assault and one for carrying a flick knife.
“I genuinely believe there will be loss of life in this feud between the brothers. There will be an imminent threat to Padraig’s life with Joe’s release,” Garda Hogan said.
Joe Joyce told the court his brother had assaulted and threatened him over the years.
In reply to prosecuting counsel, Conor Fahy, the accused said he was prepared to apologise to his brother provided he stay away from him in the future.
Judge McCabe imposed the five-year sentence on Joe Joyce for threatening to kill his brother and imposed a concurrent two and a half year sentence for trespassing on his brother’s property with a knife.
The sentences were backdated to when the accused was first taken into custody 15 months ago.