Are FCA pants ok to wear?

Darragh Harte

My sister and father were both in the FCA for many years and when they left when it became the RDF they kept their uniforms. My sisters fit me so she left it to me. I use the trousers, I repeat solely the trousers, sometimes to travel to and from work. I cycle in galway, its cold and wet so they keep me reasonably warm and dry. Ive had a few people comment on them befote but noone has ever outright called me out on em before so I was wondering is it ok for me to wear them. I understand the Law says no but I would never impersonate any member of the DF and if anyone asks I always say my sister was in the FCA and gave em to me and they usually drop the matter. Until a polish guy at work made some smart comments about it being illegal and how im being disrespectful by wearing the trousers. So I thought to ask here as my father, a man who spent 30 years of his life in military service, said its ok. They have no markings of rank, just plain army trousers that I use every now and again on wet days. Thanks for any info guys

Arghus

I'd say you're in the clear. You might get a citation from the fashion police, but that's about it. But they don't get up any time before the afternoon, dahhling.

It's definitely more frowned upon to not wear pants while out and about, in general, in my experience.

phelixoflaherty

Army and navy stores wouldn't exist

Peregrinus

It's an offence under Defence Act 1954 s.254 for anyone who isn't a member of the defence forces to wear, with the permission of the Minister for Defence, defence forces uniform (or an imitation of it). There's an exception to allow wearing a uniform in a play or other dramatic representation.

"Uniform" includes any distinctive part of the uniform. So if you have something issued by some branch of the defence forces that looks like, say, generic combat pants, you're OK. But if they are unmistakably Irish Defence Forces issue, you're not OK.

D0NNELLY

Well there's your answer, pen a letter to the Minister. You can just copy and paste your op.

Free-2-Flow

D0NNELLY wrote:

Well there's your answer, pen a letter to the Minister. You can just copy and paste your op.

You'll be fine to wear them, Just cut the Irish flag off is there is one, Since most of the Guards in this country don't know our laws anyway you'll be grand.
French Army Camo is very similar to Irish.

0lddog

Not for nothing was the FCA known as....The Free Clothing Association

Gregor Samsa

If they have no insignia on them, how did a Polish guy in work know they were FCA trousers to give out about them? I'd say if you don't keep telling people about them, no one is ever going to know.

Peregrinus

Plus, if they're no longer standard issue uniform of the Defence Forces - if current RDF members are wearing something different - then I doubt that you could be successfully prosecuted.

(If there were any appetite to prosecute you at all, which I doubt. My guess would be that no prosecution would ever be brought unless somebody was wearing uniform in circumstances where they might benefit from being taken as/treated as a member of the Defence Forces. Its aimed at avoiding circumstances where people might capitalise on an apparent association with the Defence Forces that they don't genuinely have.)

Mena Mitty

I may not be using the right terminology here but here goes...if it's the camuflage trousers combat style, I think the pattern is 'patented' 'copyrighted' and any member of the defense forces will recognise them a mile off.

Dial Hard

Mena Mitty wrote:

I may not be using the right terminology here but here goes...if it's the camuflage trousers combat style, I think the pattern is 'patented' 'copyrighted' and any member of the defense forces will recognise them a mile off.

Pretty much. Irish DPMs are very distinctive.

Peregrinus

Mena Mitty wrote: »

I may not be using the right terminology here but here goes...if it's the camuflage trousers combat style, I think the pattern is 'patented' 'copyrighted' and any member of the defense forces will recognise them a mile off.

Surely the whole point of a camouflage pattern is that you won't even see it a mile off, never mind recognise it?

biko

We call 'em trousers around these parts

corner of hells

phutyle wrote: »

If they have no insignia on them, how did a Polish guy in work know they were FCA trousers to give out about them? I'd say if you don't keep telling people about them, no one is ever going to know.

Maybe he was in the Polish FCA or maybe there's a FCA barracks in Warsaw , I give up , how did he know ?

diomed

Darragh Harte wrote: »

I use the trousers, I repeat solely the trousers, sometimes to travel to and from work.

Are you cycling to work only wearing trousers?

andekwarhola

If they're camouflage ones, you should be jailed purely for fashion crimes.

Ferrari3600

Could you give a man a lethal blow if he was coming really hard?

(Gareth Keenan the Office reference)

Mena Mitty

Point taken...so to speak.

sligojoek

Sergeant: I didn't see you at camoflage practice this morning, Murphy.

Murphy: Thank you, sir.

dexter_morgan

0lddog wrote: »

Not for nothing was the FCA known as....The Free Clothing Association

Fools Carrying Arms

cml387

Are there any more of your sister's clothes that you, em, try on?

IamtheWalrus

diomed wrote: »

Are you cycling to work only wearing trousers?

I think the cycling shoes with the clips are implicit.

Free-2-Flow

dexter_morgan wrote:

Fools Carrying Arms

Wouldn't accept you?

qo2cj1dsne8y4k

Was the fCA that let you drink legally before you were 18? I worked in a dept store when I was 16 and the security guard kept trying to get me to join on the back of there being (free? Legal??) beer. Anyway, my momma wouldn't let me join.

dexter_morgan

Free-2-Flow wrote: »

Wouldn't accept you?

Who wouldn't?

Free-2-Flow

LexieOnRale wrote:

Was the fCA that let you drink legally before you were 18? I worked in a dept store when I was 16 and the security guard kept trying to get me to join on the back of there being (free? Legal??) beer. Anyway, my momma wouldn't let me join.

That's exactly it, Tax free, underage drinking. Those were the days.

bitburger

If they have this pattern they are illegal to wear, otherwise your in the clear, but in all honesty, nobody is going to stop you and give out to you for wearing Irish DPM on yer pushbike.

ED E

I was under the impression(at least a few yeas back) that the only source of Irish DPM was the state and it was retained the MoD's property? Thus you having it was tantamount to theft as it wasnt issued to you.

Could be totally wrong there but thats why many Irish airsoft players rocked up in Brit DPMs.

Donal55

ED E wrote: »

I was under the impression(at least a few yeas back) that the only source of Irish DPM was the state and it was retained the MoD's property? Thus you having it was tantamount to theft as it wasnt issued to you.

Could be totally wrong there but thats why many Irish airsoft players rocked up in Brit DPMs.

Back in the day the soldiers coming back from the Leb!! used to sell their combats. This lead to the Army stamping in thick black ink 'FF' on the collars.
Didnt stop all those jackets being sold in the Dandelion Market however.

Boom_Bap

bitburger wrote: »

If they have this pattern they are illegal to wear, otherwise your in the clear, but in all honesty, nobody is going to stop you and give out to you for wearing Irish DPM on yer pushbike.

Why would you put up a picture with nothing in the picture?

mansize

LexieOnRale wrote: »

Was the fCA that let you drink legally before you were 18? I worked in a dept store when I was 16 and the security guard kept trying to get me to join on the back of there being (free? Legal??) beer. Anyway, my momma wouldn't let me join.

That doesn't sound like grooming at all... :O

r3nu4l

Peregrinus wrote: »

It's an offence under Defence Act 1954 s.254 for anyone who isn't a member of the defence forces to wear, with the permission of the Minister for Defence, defence forces uniform (or an imitation of it). There's an exception to allow wearing a uniform in a play or other dramatic representation.

"Uniform" includes any distinctive part of the uniform. So if you have something issued by some branch of the defence forces that looks like, say, generic combat pants, you're OK. But if they are unmistakably Irish Defence Forces issue, you're not OK.

Right on! Should be locked up for life!!

Yes, it is an offence, no disputing that but speeding is an offence too and this is the equivalent of someone doing 82 in an 80 zone. Shocker!!

The 'disrespect' thing is like some crap I would have been mouthing when I was in my late teens or early twenties.. before I grew up. Carry on OP, nothing to see here. Would be different if you were some Walter Mitty, showing up at military ceremonies with fake medals and incorrect bits of kit...

jameorahiely

The special uniform unit have been notified of these breeches

sligojoek

jameorahiely wrote: »

The special uniform unit have been notified of these breeches

Breeches almost threadbare at the knees.