‘Thank God this is over’ – van stopped in Louth had secret compartment to transport cocaine

By Francis Carroll, The Drogheda Independent

A man caught behind the wheel of a van which was transporting cocaine said to gardaí after his arrest, “Thank God this is over”.

Dundalk Circuit Court heard that Lee McBride (47) had been beaten up by the people directing him to bring the drugs to Ireland in the van which had a secret compartment.

The defendant, from Drogheda, with an address at Kiltole, Convoy, Lifford, Co. Donegal, appeared for sentencing via video link from Cloverhill Prison.

He previously signed guilty pleas to possession of drugs for sale or supply with a value of €13,000 or more and possession of a vehicle for facilitating a drug trafficking offence.

The haul of cocaine had a €210,000 market value.

Mr McBride was sentenced to 2 years, backdated to April 2025 when he went into custody.

Gda Leon Fox told of a traffic stop on April 28, 2025, on the N33 Ardee, Co. Louth, after a Citroen Berlingo was spotted driving suspiciously.

The driver and sole occupant was nervous. He was told the van was going to be searched but because of poor lighting and a busy road it was decided to bring Mr McBride and the vehicle to Drogheda Garda Station.

Gda Fox said that en route the man remarked, “Thank God this is over”.

During the search a sophisticated hidden compartment was found under the floor of the van’s cargo area. It had a hydraulic rising mechanism operated by buttons on a cigarette lighter and keys. Inside the compartment was the cocaine.

Mr McBride made full admissions, telling investigators that he had financial difficulties following the collapse of his kitchen fitting business during Covid, while his cousin was “in bother”.

He got a phone call to collect drugs for which was he was promised €3,000. He ultimately received no money.

The court heard that a named individual paid for the van to be altered. The defendant was pressurised to travel to Manchester for the alterations to be carried out.

He was then told to make a second trip to Liverpool to pick up the cocaine.

Mr McBride was charged the morning following his arrest, since when he has remained in custody having not made a bail application.

He has eight previous convictions for Road Traffic offences, three for public order and one for each of theft and burglary.

The accused was raised and educated in Drogheda. After the Leaving Cert he studied Electronic Engineering in college.

A self-employed kitchen fitter, he lost that business during Covid when the father of five’s marriage also broke down.

Gda Fox said that the man’s injuries from the beating were still evident when he was apprehended. The defendant was not sure what type of drugs he was bringing back.

He was working six days a week in the prison kitchen.

Referencing reports, Judge Dara Hayes said that Lee McBride began drinking at age 10.

He twice attended Cuan Mhuire and had abstained from alcohol for 14 years until relapsing in 2003.

This was serious offending, the judge continued, involving a significant quantity of imported drugs.

Another aggravating factor was the sophisticated nature of the hidden compartment in the van.

The reward might not have been paid but Mr McBride did this for reward. Significant pressure was placed upon him.

Concurrent sentences of 4 years and 2 years were imposed, backdated to April 29, 2025, with the final two years conditionally suspended.

A forfeiture order was made for the van and an order for destruction of the drugs.