Defence Act, 1954

Penalty for personation.

258.—(1) Any person who—

(a) falsely and deceitfully personates any person with intent fraudulently to obtain any military pay, reward, pension, allowance, grant or gratuity or any sum payable in respect of military service or any property or money in the possession of the military authorities, or

(b) falsely represents himself to any military or civil authority to belong to or to be or to have been a particular member of the Defence Forces,

shall be guilty of an offence under this section and shall be liable on summary conviction thereof to a fine not exceeding twenty-five pounds or, at the discretion of the court, to imprisonment for any term not exceeding three months.

(2) Where a reservist commits in the presence of an officer an offence under this section, such officer may without warrant arrest such man and, in that case, shall, as soon as may be, deliver him into the custody of a member of the Garda Síochána to be dealt with according to law.