Member of Defence Forces to be sentenced in May for possessing €27k of cocaine at Cork barracks

The charge carries a 10-year minimum sentence unless there are exceptional circumstances

Shane Scanlon was caught with cocaine with a street value of €26,992 at Collins Barracks on Old Youghal Road in Cork. File picture: Larry Cummins

Sentencing of a member of the Irish Defence Forces who was caught almost a year ago with a stash of cocaine with a street value of €26,992 at Collins Barracks on Old Youghal Road in Cork was set on Tuesday for May 19 at Cork Circuit Criminal Court.

“It is an unusual case in that he is a serving member of the armed forces,” defence senior counsel Ray Boland said after Shane Scanlon affirmed his signed guilty pleas to all charges against him.

Mr Boland asked for a probation report to be directed in advance of sentencing and Judge Helen Boyle acceded to that application. Judge Boyle remanded the accused on continuing bail until May 19.

Detective Garda Derry O’Brien charged Shane Scanlon of Cooline Heights, Ballyvoloon, Cobh, County Cork, with a number of charges. Now the 35-year-old faces sentencing on all charges against him.

Shane Scanlon admitted 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. He also admitted having cocaine unlawfully in his possession for his own use. 

The most serious drugs charge under the Misuse of Drugs Act to which he also pleaded guilty refers to having cocaine for sale or supply when its street value exceeded €13,000 — a charge which carries a 10-year minimum sentence unless there are exceptional circumstances.

He signed a plea of guilty 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.

Bail conditions between now and the circuit court appearance include the surrender of his passport and travel documents, signing twice a week at Cobh garda station and providing a phone number at which he will be contactable at all times.

Shane Scanlon was not required to speak on Tuesday during the brief hearing at Cork Circuit Criminal Court, other than to affirm the signed pleas of guilty which he entered last week.