Laois Man Fined for Trying to Pay for Sex in Newry

[Noregrets]

https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/n...-40155602.html

A Co Laois man has been fined £500 for trying to pay for sexual services in Newry.

John Bergin (35) of Fassidinas New Row, Abbeyleix, is also charged with possession of class A drugs on October 18, 2020.

A charge of paying for sexual services was withdrawn.

Newry Magistrates Court heard that the PSNI observed a suspicious white Land Rover on Monaghan Street in the city at 2am.

Two females were seen approaching the vehicle and one entered a nearby property with the accused. Police entered and found a female hiding behind a door.

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Bergin was questioned and admitted to making contact with her via the Escort Ireland website.

Cocaine was also found.

The defendant was arrested and during a PSNI interview admitted the offences.

Defence barrister Kevin O'Hare said his client, who "has no record whatsoever" had pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity and had been embarrassed on mainstream and social media by the incident.


Crazy, first of all he meets 2 ladies in the street before going into an apartment or house with them, why the hell did they meet outdoors, and secondly he admits to meeting them through the website.

No admission, no conviction, it's not really rocket science,

[DiamondJim]

Was it a sting or setup?

[Noregrets]

Reading the article, he was acting suspiciously, and they found cocaine, so the cops were happy to get any conviction and as he admitted to trying to pay for sex that was IMO the easy conviction. Girls not charged, I doubt if the fella would have been convicted without a guilty plea, he could also have entered a plea to the sex offence so that the drug offence was not prosecuted.

[manonamission]

sounds like a sting to me and dislike Newry and never punt there as too many Cops and not very nice ones either, there more to this this than being told

[philipkntz]

Was it a sting or setup?

Or a drug deal? Paying for sex is a lesser charge and certain people are looking for statistics.

[Forceuser]

Newry Magistrates Court heard that the PSNI observed a suspicious white Land Rover on Monaghan Street in the city at 2am.

Two females were seen approaching the vehicle and one entered a nearby property with the accused. Police entered and found a female hiding behind a door.

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Bergin was questioned and admitted to making contact with her via the Escort Ireland website.

Cocaine was also found.

[Noregrets]

In a word yes

[philipkntz]

If you are questioned by Gardai and you deny being there for sex, don't be surprised if they go down the road of whether you are a drug dealer or pimp.
Being there to pay for sex, might suddenly appear the lesser evil, especially if you're idiot enough to be caught carrying.
My advice, admit nothing, don't tell lies and don't do drugs. If you bring a car, make sure that its road legal and don't drink.

[SteveB]

I recall going to visit an escort in Belfast. I had a car park in mind to park in, but, eejit that I am, even with a sat-nav, I got lost. I had missed my turn so I went down a small alley to turn around. Unfortunately it was one-way and as I looked in the mirror I noticed a motorcycle cop had followed me in. He must have had his public-relations head on because he asked me nicely if I was lost and where was I going. I told him I was going to the car park so he escorted me, the wrong way down the alley, then gave me directions to the car park, and stopped the traffic on the street so that I could get out of the alley.

Don't know the exact details regarding our unfortunate Laois client and it is easy to be smart when you don't know all the facts but, generally, good idea to be completely legal and not be "acting suspiciously" especially at 2am. Act normal non-suspiciously and you are just another person and you are usually OK. In such circumstances, not only are the cops not a problem, they can even be quite useful.

[sg471]

'Are you paying for sex, sir?'

' Well I bought the missus dinner, am I under arrest? "