Passing of Civil Defence legend John Scannell
ONE of Ireland’s longest serving and most admired members of the Civil Defence passed away last weekend.
John Scannell, who resided in Wilton Lawn in Cork, was born in Mallow. John served with the Civil Defence for over 57 years up to his retirement in 2015. He was instrumental in forming the Mallow Civil Defence at Mallow Court House in 1957.
John, who was an official with C.I.E., became an instructor in 1960 after stringent and intense training. Over the years as an instructor he gave courses in Mallow, Castletownroche, Buttevant, Lombardstown and in many other centres throughout Cork. He also attended many emergency events, such as floodings, forests fires, people searches and during serious weather situations. Many Civil Defence teams won National Awards due to John’s guidance in the field of rescue and first aid. John was a regular guest adjudicator at various competitions in Cork, Kerry, Tipperary, Waterford and Dublin.
At his retirement party in Mallow in 2015 John was honoured with a This Is Your Life type of honour when many old friends from all parts of Ireland travelled to pay homage to the Civil Defence legend, including the then Director General of the Civil Defence, Bill Smith.
At his private funeral members of the Civil Defence formed a guard of honour. John is predeceased by his brother Michael, sisters Kathleen (U.S.A.) and Rita and survived by his wife Margot (Sheehan), sister Mary, sister-in-law Sheila, relatives, neighbours and friends.