Soldier Lost Loaded Pistol on Secret Mission Due to 'Drinking Culture,' Judge Says

A judge has condemned the Army's "drinking culture" after a soldier lost a loaded 9mm pistol during a top-secret foreign mission, an incident that could have had "massive operational consequences."

Lance Corporal Aaron Mann, then 26, was on a "highly sensitive" deployment in December 2024 when he became "severely intoxicated" on the evening of December 18 and into the following morning. Mann, who served with the first Battalion, the Royal Irish Regiment, lost a bag containing the pistol and 30 rounds of ammunition. The bag was later returned by local civilians.

Mana pleaded guilty to breaching an alcohol ban. He told the court he was "very lucky" that the bag was recovered by the "correct people."

Mann was sentenced to 12 months in military prison and subsequently discharged from the Army.

Assistant Judge Advocate General Peter Legard, sentencing Mann, stated: "This court martial is getting demoralised and fed up with the number of matters that it is having to deal with, almost all of which are related to excessive alcohol consumption."

Legard added, "The chain of command needs to get a grip on this drinking culture, which is prevalent... across the three services because it is having... a significant detrimental impact upon operational effectiveness."

In response to the incident, the Army stated on Sunday: "Where alcohol misuse causes a lapse in standards of behaviour, soldiers will face disciplinary action."