Man sings ‘Born Free’ in court

A Cork man has been remanded in custody after he sang ‘Born Free’ in a Derry courtroom where he was appearing on a disorderly behaviour charge.

Nicholas Roper, aged 49, from Youghal, was arrested in Altnaglevin Hospital on Saturday. Derry Magistrates Court heard yesterday that he stripped naked in a police van and refused to come into the court room.

When he eventually appeared, he started to sing and refused to stop. He was dressed and handcuffed to a police sergeant during the hearing, and he ignored questions from the court clerk, sergeant, and the judge.

The court heard he refused to say if he was guilty or not guilty of committing disorderly behaviour in the hospitalemergency department.

The judge said a defendant is entitled to the presumption of innocence so a plea of not guilty would be entered on his behalf. When asked if he wished to apply for bail, Mr Roper continued singing the title song of the 1966 film and ignored the question.

The judge said he was not refusing bail, but he was remanding the defendant in custody until July 20 because he had not applied for bail. The court heard that appropriate medical experts assessed him as fit to appear in court after his arrest.