Defence Forces member in Cork to be sentenced on Friday over drugs charges  

Almost two decades of exemplary service in the Irish army came to a sudden end after a soldier was caught with a stash of almost €27,000 worth of cocaine in Collins Barracks – a place he admitted using as a ‘safe haven’ for his drugs.

Shane Scanlon had his sentencing hearing at Cork Circuit Criminal Court today. 

After hearing the evidence Judge Dermot Sheehan said he would adjourn his decision in the case until May 23, and remanded the accused on continuing bail.

Detective Garda Derry O’Brien said the search of Room 31 at Collins Barracks was carried out on March 27, 2024. While he (the defendant) was living in Cobh he rented this room and was the sole occupant of it.

A stash of cocaine with a street value of €26,992 was discovered in the room at Collins Barracks on Old Youghal Road in Cork, along with €1,100 in cash, and numerous drug paraphernalia including a blender, weighing scales and bags. He took full ownership of the drugs and materials as soon as they were found.

“He admitted having the drugs for sale or supply. A follow-up search of his home was conducted, and €2,250 in cash was seized there. He was not a drug user. And the sale of drugs was purely for monetary gain.

“His phone was examined and there was evidence of drug-dealing on his phone as far back as 2021. He was storing it in the barracks, and he regarded it as a safe haven,” Det Garda O’Brien said.

Circumstances

Defence senior counsel Ray Boland said that in light of the defendant’s particular family circumstances he was asking for a fully suspended prison sentence.

Judge Sheehan said he was disinclined to do that as the legislature sought mandatory minimum sentences of 10 years unless there were exceptional circumstances.

The matter will be finalised on Friday at Cork Circuit Criminal Court.

Detective Garda O’Brien charged Shane Scanlon of Cooline Heights, Ballyvoloon, Cobh, County Cork, with a number of charges, including possession of a controlled drug, namely cocaine, at Collins Barracks, Old Youghal Road in Cork for the purpose of selling or otherwise supplying it to another on March 27, 2024, when its street value exceeded €13,000. The charge which carries a 10 year minimum sentence unless there are exceptional circumstances.

Mr Scanlon signed a plea of guilty to the drug-dealing charge and to money-laundering in respect of €2,250 at his home in Cobh, and another sum of €1,100 at Collins Barracks.

Mr Scanlon finally pleaded guilty to possession of articles, namely a blender and weighing scales in circumstances giving rise to a reasonable inference that it was for the purpose of commission, preparation, facilitation or instigation of a drug trafficking offence.

Mr Boland said: “He is of previous good behaviour. He has resigned from the army after 18 years of otherwise exemplary service.

“It brought shame on his unit and brought the army into disrepute and he is ashamed of that and remorseful.

“I would ask for his admissions and cooperation to be taken into consideration. The amount – though considerable – is at lower end for 15A (the charge under the Misuse of Drugs Act that carries the  10 year minimum term). This was done because he was under financial pressure.”