Bagpiper to contest ticket for carrying ceremonial knife
‘It has to do with respecting a culture ... culture is your identity’
The Montreal bagpiper who was ticketed by Montreal police for carrying a ceremonial knife is going to fight the infraction in court.
Police issued Jeff McCarthy a $221 ticket for carrying a small knife tucked in his kilt hose while he was taking a break from performing at a McGill convocation ceremony Nov. 2 at Place des Arts.
Police also confiscated the knife, known by its Gaelic name of sgiandubh (pronounced skee-an do). The knife is a common accessory for men in traditional Scottish garb.
Police recently met with McCarthy to explain that he can retrieve his knife at a local police station after he pays his ticket.
But the longtime piper told the Montreal Gazette he has no intention of paying the ticket and has hired a lawyer to represent him in court.
“To be honest, I have no intention to go down to the station right now,” McCarthy said. “I don’t know if it’s like a (Scottish) Highland stubbornness or pride, but I’m not going to walk into the station to be eyeballed by any of the officers, as much as I respect them.
“I do believe I shouldn’t have been stopped for just portraying the culture I represent when I play bagpipes.”
After news of McCarthy’s ticket made headlines, he received support from Scottish cultural associations, including the St. Andrew’s Society and Clan Campbell Society.
Dozens of other individuals angered by the story offered to pay McCarthy ’s ticket, but the 48-yearold bagpiper is set on fighting it in court.
“It has to do with respecting a culture,” McCarthy said.
“A lot of people are saying religion and culture are two different things. Religion is protected in the Charter of Rights, but culture is not necessarily so. To me that is unfortunate because culture is your identity while you walk the face of the earth.”
In 2006, the Canadian Supreme Court ruled that banning a 12-yearold student in Montreal from wearing a kirpan to school infringed upon his guarantees of religious freedoms under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
The kirpan is a type of religious dagger that must be worn by Sikhs at all times.
Montreal police issued a statement this week saying: “Mr. McCarthy was advised to conceal his knife while on the move, especially when not in full uniform.”
Police also noted that the “SPVM will continue to have tolerance for events such as parades and shows.”
I’m not going to walk into the station (to pick up the confiscated knife) to be eyeballed by any of the officers, as much as I respect them.