Wednesday 28 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 6194Drug possession and possession for supply (cocaine) · Co. Cork · 27 Mar 2024

Cork soldier charged over €25k cocaine seized at Collins Barracks

Gardaí and military police searched Collins Barracks on Old Youghal Road in Cork city and seized upwards of €25,000 of suspected cocaine and a large quantity of cash. Shane Scanlon, a 34-year-old man and member of the Defence Forces, was arrested on the evening of 26 March 2024, though the charges give the offence date as 27 March. He is charged with possession of cocaine for supply and with unlawful possession of cocaine under the Misuse of Drugs Act, and he appeared at a special sitting of Cork City District Court on 28 March 2024. Judge John King remanded him on bail until July 15.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrested28 Mar
    2 reports
  3. Charged29 Mar
    3 reports
  4. In court28 Mar
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Gardaí seized upwards of €25,000 of suspected cocaine and a large quantity of cash during a search.
Where
The search took place at Collins Barracks on Old Youghal Road in Cork city, a Defence Forces base.
When
  • The soldier was arrested on the evening of Wednesday 26 March 2024.
  • The charges give the alleged offence date as 27 March, while the arrest was reported on 26 March.
Other details
  • The accused is Shane Scanlon, a 34-year-old man and member of the Defence Forces.
  • He was detained at Cork Garda Station under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking Act) 1996.
Investigation
  • A joint investigation by military police and Gardaí led to the search, and military police will continue to assist Gardaí.
  • An official Defence Forces vehicle was handed to Gardaí for technical examination, and the arrested member had recently driven it.
Charges
  • Scanlon is charged with possession of cocaine for the purpose of supplying it to another.
  • Scanlon is also charged with unlawful possession of cocaine, with both alleged offences contrary to the Misuse of Drugs Act.
In court
  • He appeared at a special sitting of Cork City District Court on Thursday 28 March 2024.
  • Garda Derry O'Brien gave evidence of the arrest, charge and caution.
  • Judge John King remanded him on bail until his next appearance on July 15.
Sentence
No sentence has been reported, and Gardaí will not provide further information because the matter is before the courts.
47 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatOfficers found a large quantity of cash and illegal substances. (corkbeo.ie)
  • whatA soldier was arrested by Gardaí after drugs and cash were found at a Defence Forces base. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatOfficers discovered a large quantity of cash and illegal substances. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatOfficers discovered a large quantity of cash and suspected illegal substances during the search. (corkbeo.ie)
  • whatGardaí seized more than €25,000 of suspected cocaine. (corkbeo.ie)
  • whatA member of the Defence Forces appeared at a special sitting of Cork District Court. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatA member of the Irish Defence Forces appeared at a special sitting of Cork District Court. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatCocaine worth upwards of €25,000 was seized. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatA member of the Defence Forces appeared at a special sitting of Cork District Court charged over the seizure of over €25,000 of cocaine. (corkbeo.ie)
  • whereA search took place at Collins Barracks in Cork. (corkbeo.ie)
  • whereThe search was of Collins Barracks in Cork. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe search took place at Collins Barracks in Cork. (corkbeo.ie)
  • whereThe cocaine was seized at Collins Barracks on Old Youghal Road in Cork city. (irishmirror.ie, corkbeo.ie)
  • whereThe seizure was at Collins Barracks on Old Youghal Road in Cork city. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe soldier was arrested on the evening of Wednesday 26 March. (corkbeo.ie)
  • whenThe alleged offences took place on March 27th. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe possession charges relate to March 27. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe alleged offences took place on March 27. (corkbeo.ie)
  • investigationThe investigation was carried out by military police with Gardaí. (corkbeo.ie)
  • investigationMilitary police will continue to assist Gardaí in the investigation. (corkbeo.ie, irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationThe investigation was carried out by military police with members of An Garda Síochána. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationA Defence Forces vehicle was handed to Gardaí for technical examination. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationThe investigation was a joint operation between military police and gardaí. (corkbeo.ie)
  • investigationAn official Defence Forces vehicle was handed over to gardaí for technical examination. (corkbeo.ie)
  • investigationGarda Derry O'Brien gave evidence of the arrest, charge and caution. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationA garda gave evidence of the arrest, charge and caution at the hearing. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationThe arrest was part of a joint investigation between military police and gardaí. (corkbeo.ie)
  • chargeThe man was charged. (corkbeo.ie)
  • chargeShane Scanlon is charged with possession of cocaine for the purpose of supplying it to another. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeShane Scanlon is also charged with unlawful possession of cocaine. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeThe alleged offences are contrary to the Misuse of Drugs Act. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeShane Scanlon is charged with two offences. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeHe is charged with possession of cocaine for the purpose of supply. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeHe is also charged with having cocaine unlawfully in his possession. (irishtimes.com, corkbeo.ie)
  • chargeThe alleged offences are under the Misuse of Drugs Act. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeHe is charged with possession of a controlled drug, cocaine, for the purpose of selling or supplying it. (corkbeo.ie)
  • courtHe appeared before a special sitting of Cork City District Court on 28 March 2024. (corkbeo.ie)
  • courtThe short hearing took place on the evening before the article was published. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtJudge John King remanded Shane Scanlon on bail until July 15th. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe short hearing took place on a Thursday evening. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtJudge John King remanded Scanlon on bail to July 15. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtJudge John King remanded him on bail until his next court appearance on July 15. (corkbeo.ie)
  • otherA member of the Defence Forces was arrested and is in Garda custody. (corkbeo.ie)
  • otherA Defence Forces vehicle was handed over to Gardaí for technical examination. (corkbeo.ie)
  • otherThe arrested Defence Forces member had recently driven the vehicle. (corkbeo.ie, irishmirror.ie)
  • otherHe was detained at Cork Garda Station under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking Act) 1996. (corkbeo.ie)
  • otherGardaí will not provide further information because the matter is now before the courts. (corkbeo.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 29 Mar2024
    Chargedcorkbeo.ie, first report
    Cork soldier named in court charged with €25k cocaine found at Collins Barracks

    Reports the court appearance, the two charges, the joint military police and Garda investigation, and the bail remand to July 15.

    accused, Shane Scanlon, 34, male, named, irish (judged from name)Shane Scanlon
  2. 29 Mar2024
    Chargedirishtimes.com, follow-up
    Defence Forces member charged in connection with €25,000 Cork cocaine seizure

    Adds the full charge wording (two offences under the Misuse of Drugs Act), the address given for the accused, the seizure value of upwards of €25,000, the arresting garda's evidence at a short hearing, and that the judge was John King.

    accused, Shane Scanlon, 34, male, named, irish (judged from name)Shane Scanlon
  3. 29 Mar2024
    Chargedirishmirror.ie, follow-up
    Soldier appears in Cork court charged over €25,000 cocaine seizure in barracks

    Names the accused as Shane Scanlon, gives his age as 34, and states he faces two charges under the Misuse of Drugs Act. Adds that Garda Derry O'Brien gave evidence of arrest, charge and caution, and that the judge remanded him on bail to July 15th.

    accused, Shane Scanlon, 34, male, named, irish (judged from name)Shane Scanlon
  4. 28 Mar2024
    In courtcorkbeo.ie, follow-up
    Soldier charged after Gardaí seize €25,000 of suspected cocaine at Cork barracks

    Adds details of the search of Collins Barracks, the joint Garda and military police investigation, the arrest on 26 March, the handover of a Defence Forces vehicle, and the court appearance at Cork City District Court.

    accused, 30s, male
  5. 28 Mar2024
    Arrestedirishmirror.ie, follow-up
    Soldier arrested as illegal substances and cash seized at Cork barracks

    Early report of the arrest, before any charge. It says the search followed a military police investigation, that a Defence Forces vehicle was handed to Gardaí, and that military police will assist Gardaí. It does not name the soldier or give an incident date.

    suspect
  6. 28 Mar2024
    Arrestedcorkbeo.ie, follow-up
    Soldier arrested at Cork army base as Gardaí seize haul of cash and drugs

    Early report of the arrest after the search of Collins Barracks; adds that military police led the investigation with Gardaí, that a Defence Forces vehicle was handed to Gardaí, and that the arrested member had recently driven the vehicle.

    suspect