Ireland Two men jailed over cocaine seizure at Louth M1 service station
On 29 October 2020, a woman was handed a package containing cocaine worth €17,472 at the Applegreen Southbound service station in Castlebellingham, Co Louth, on the M1, after one man told her she was collecting fireworks. Barry McLaughlin, Christopher Bergin and Jonathan Ivors were charged with possession of cocaine for sale or supply, and Bergin is 39 and Ivors is 40. On 5 March 2025 at Dundalk Circuit Court, McLaughlin and Bergin were jailed, though sources differ on whether the term was three years or four and a half years with the final 18 months suspended. The latest development is that sentencing of Ivors was adjourned to July for an updated Probation report.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced5 Mar
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- A woman was handed a package containing cocaine worth €17,472.
- A quantity of mixing agent was recovered in the garda operation.
- Where
- The seizure took place at the Applegreen Southbound service station in Castlebellingham, Co Louth, on the M1.
- Barry McLaughlin was waiting in his car on the hard shoulder of the northbound carriageway.
- When
- The incident happened on 29 October 2020.
- Cause
- One of the men told his wife, who collected the drugs, that she was collecting fireworks.
- Investigation
- Two Dublin men were under garda surveillance.
- Charges
- Barry McLaughlin, Christopher Bergin and Jonathan Ivors were charged with possession of cocaine for sale or supply.
- Other details
- Christopher Bergin is 39 and Jonathan Ivors is 40.
- €12,000 in cash was found on Christopher Bergin.
- In court
- The court report on the sentencing at Dundalk Circuit Court was published on 5 March 2025.
- Sentencing of Jonathan Ivors was adjourned to July for an updated Probation report.
- Sentence
- Barry McLaughlin and Christopher Bergin were jailed; the introduction says three years, while the body says four and a half years each with the final 18 months suspended.
11 statements extracted from the articles
- whatTwo men charged after the seizure were jailed for three years at Dundalk Circuit Court, according to the article's introduction. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- whatA woman was handed a package containing €17,472 worth of cocaine. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- whatA quantity of mixing agent was recovered in the garda operation. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- what€12,000 in cash was found on Christopher Bergin. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- whereThe cocaine seizure happened at the Applegreen Southbound service station in Castlebellingham. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- whereBarry McLaughlin was waiting in his car on the hard shoulder of the northbound carriageway. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- whenThe incident happened on 29 October 2020. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- causeOne of the men told his wife, who collected the drugs, that she was collecting fireworks. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- investigationTwo Dublin men were under garda surveillance. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- courtSentencing of co-accused Jonathan Ivors was adjourned to July for an updated Probation report. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- sentenceBarry McLaughlin and Christopher Bergin were each sentenced to four and a half years, with the final 18 months suspended. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 5 Mar2025Men jailed over cocaine seizure at Louth service station
Court report on sentencing of Barry McLaughlin and Christopher Bergin. The article's introduction says they were jailed for three years, but the body says four and a half years each with the final 18 months suspended. Sentencing of co-accused Jonathan Ivors was adjourned to July for an updated Probation report.
convicted, Barry McLaughlin, male, named, irish (judged from name)Barry McLaughlinconvicted, Christopher Bergin, 39, male, named, irish (judged from name)Christopher Berginaccused, Jonathan Ivors, 40, namedJonathan Ivors