Soldier who led Army’s world-famous wolfhound Seamus on ceremonial parades sacked for taking cocaine
A SOLDIER who led the Army’s world-famous wolfhound Seamus on ceremonial parades has been sacked for taking drugs.
Drummer Ashley Dean tested positive for cocaine after marching with the Irish wolfhound — whose official name is Turlough Mor — at high-profile events often attended by royals.
He was said to have been marched into a meeting with bosses at his battalion’s headquarters, where they informed him of the test results and quickly sent him packing.
Seamus is the mascot of the Irish Guards regiment, whose colonel-in-chief is Kate, Princess of Wales.
She was regularly pictured stroking the hound and other Army ceremonial dogs before she stopped her public engagements to have cancer treatment.
A source said Drummer Dean, often seen in ceremonial scarlet tunic and bearskin with Seamus, was snared by a random drugs test earlier this month.
He said: “A few Tuesdays ago they did a compulsory drug test and it came back positive for cocaine. He’s just been kicked out for it — they normally try and get you out really quick.”
The source added: “He would have been around the royals and foreign leadership figures — he would have been meeting them. I don’t think it’s good for people going around royalty to be doing that, it brings a bad name to the battalion.
“Being in with such a prestigious regiment, he should know better.”
Drummer Dean served with the band of the Irish Guards, which regularly performs at royal events including tourist favourite Changing the Guard outside Buckingham Palace.
The Sun had earlier revealed that six Irish Guards, who were due to lead the Platinum Jubilee parade, were held on suspicion of dealing the Class A drug and running a loan shark operation.
They were nicked in dawn raids in Hampshire, Berkshire, North Wales and Northern Ireland.
A former sergeant from the Coldstream Guards was also nabbed.
The Irish wolfhound Turlough Mor is the regiment’s 17th official mascot and is named after an ancient kings — but affectionately known as Seamus.
He regularly leads the troop parades including its St Patrick’s day march where VIPs including Kate present the guards and Seamus with shamrocks.
The Irish Guards, formed in 1900, are affectionately known as “the Micks” or “the Fighting Micks”.
An Army spokesperson said: “Drug use in the armed forces is unacceptable, and incompatible with military service.
“Any service personnel caught taking drugs can expect to be discharged.
“We have a number of measures in place to prevent drug use including compulsory drug testing.”