‘Ashamed' ex-soldier jailed for dealing cocaine from ‘safe haven' Cork army barracks because of ‘financial pressures'
A SOLDIER who used his army barracks room as a safe haven for drug-dealing activities has been jailed for four years.
Shane Scanlon, 35, who served in the army for 18 years, used his room in Collins Barracks in
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Cork Circuit Criminal
He resigned from the
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They also found evidence of drug dealing going as far back as 2021 on his phone.
A search was carried out at his home and some €2,250 in cash was also recovered.
Scanlon made full admissions to gardai when arrested and co-operated with their investigation.
Gda O'Brien said Scanlon was using the army barracks as a 'safe haven' for storing drugs as 'opposed to his house address in Cobh'.
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The father-of-three got involved in drug dealing purely for monetary gain and there was no suggestion of drug addiction or a drug debt.
Scanlon had pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine at Collins Barracks on Old Youghal Road in Cork for the purpose of sale or supply to another, on March 27, 2024.
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He admitted having cocaine unlawfully in his possession for his own use on the same occasion.
He also pleaded guilty to money-laundering in respect of €1,100 at Collins Barracks, and another sum of €2,250 at his home in Cobh, and to being in possession of articles for the commission, preparation, facilitation or instigation of a drug-trafficking offence.
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Defending Counsel Ray Boland said his client had resigned from the Defence Forces after years of 'otherwise exemplary service'.
He asked Judge Dermot Sheehan to impose a fully suspended sentence in the case in light of certain family circumstances of the defendant.
'EXTRAORDINARY BREACH OF TRUST'
He said that his client had suffered from homelessness in the past.
Scanlon was keenly aware of the 'shame' his conduct brought on his unit.
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Mr Boland said: 'He is ashamed of that and remorseful. I would ask for his admissions and co-operation to be taken in to account.
"The amount (of cocaine) though considerable is at the lower end for Section 15A. This (offending behaviour) was done because he was under financial pressure.'
'LACK OF EMPATHY'
In sentencing, Judge Sheehan said Scanlon had a lack of 'victim awareness' and 'empathy' of the real consequences of drugs on the citizens of Ireland.
The accused wasn't just storing drugs in his room in the barracks, but was 'actively bagging and mixing the product for distribution onwards'.
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He was taking advantage of the fact that the barracks was 'controlled with armed guards 24 hours a day and 365 days a year'.
He noted Scanlon only came to garda attention because they were contacted by the authorities in the barracks.
The judge said this was an 'extraordinary breach of trust' and jailed Scanlon for five years suspending the last year of the sentence.
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The judge said the ex-solider had a lack of 'empathy'
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