In Canada Beware of Full Regalia - Piper in Full Fig Fined by Police
In Canada Beware of Full Regalia -
Piper in Full Fig Fined by Police
Piper Jeff McCarthy from Montreal, Quebec has been penalised by the police for having his Scottish ceremonial knife, his sgian-dubh, tucked in his sock. The knife which is an essential part of highland garb saw the piper land a $221 Canadian dollar fine. Now you know my feelings on pipers being a race apart so you won’t be surprised that Jeff has my full sympathy for this outrage. In fact many others have supported his cause.
Police in Clown Pants?
Even Montreal’s mayor Denis Coderre has called the fine ham fisted and suggested it should be looked into. “What? Were the police in clown pants?” Mayor Coderre joked. Jeff’s granny was Scottish and he’s keen to keep up the connection. Jeff is also of Irish, French and Jamaican descent, but above all a piper!
Is This a Dagger I See Before Me?
This police fine is strange in a land where many Canadians count themselves lucky to be the descendents of emigrant Scots. Worries have been expressed that the police will target Scottish people in general for wearing a sgian-dubh. Will there be a paddy wagon in front of the Highland Games, Jeff mused? Will they next target Sikhs for carrying a kirpan?
Scotland’s Gift to the World
Well we are normally sure the police this side of the pond won’t target you if you are in full fig, but you never know in these strange times. So here at James Pirie - just to redress the balance we have slashed the odd price, but not with a sgian-dubh, to make life a little more comfortable enjoying the water of life, one of Scotland’s great gifts to the world whisky.
