Soldier who led army’s famous wolfhound Seamus ‘sacked for taking cocaine’

A soldier who led the armed forces’ famous Irish wolfhound Seamus on ceremonial parades has been sacked for ‘taking cocaine’.

Drummer Ashley Dean tested positive for the Class A drug after marching with Seamus, whose official name is Turlough Mor, The Sun reported.

He marched with the wolfhound at high-profile ceremonies that were often attended by members of the Royal Family.

Dean, the tabloid claimed, had a meeting with bosses at the battalion’s headquarters where they informed him that his drug test had come back positive.

He was swiftly sacked from his post.

Seamus is the mascot of the Irish Guard’s regiment, whose colonel-in-chief is Kate, Princess of Wales.

A source said that Drummer Dean, often seen in a ceremonial tunic and a bearskin with Seamus, was caught out by a random drug test a few weeks ago.

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.

Turlough Mor is the regiment’s 17th official mascot named after an ancient king.

However, he is known affectionately as ‘Seamus’.

He regularly leads the troop parades including its St Patrick’s Day march where VIPs including the Princess of Wales present the guards and Kate with shamrocks.

Before she stopped public engagements to have cancer treatment, Kate was often seen stroking the wolfhound and other Army ceremonial dogs.

An Army spokesperson told Metro: ‘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.’

The Army said they would not comment on individual cases.

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