Jack Sparrow Claims Victory After Forcing Judge To Let Him Marry His Pirate Bride

Story By: Juan Mayes, Sub-Editor: Joana Mihajlovska, Agency:  Newsflash

This Spanish couple who a judge refused to marry when the groom showed up as Captain Jack Sparrow from the Pirates of the Caribbean movies has finally been married by the same judge weeks later.

The judge had complained that they could not verify the man’s identity because the make-up made him look different to his ID card, but after a massive protest including lawyers who pointed out that the wedding should have gone ahead, it has now happened in full pirate regalia.

The strange marriage took place at a registry office in the Vigo municipality of the Northern Spanish autonomous region of Galicia.

Berto Pirata, also known as the Jack Sparrow of Vigo, and his girlfriend Maria Salinas, a Galician teacher who wanted to get married on 24th April 2021 in the municipality of Vigo in Spain and their two children. (Eva Garcia/Newsflash)

The civil union should have taken place weeks ago when the couple Juan Alberto and Maria Salinas, age not stated, had arranged a third failed attempt at getting married.

COVID-19 foiled their first two plans before they managed to schedule an appointment at a registry office in Vigo on Saturday 24th April.

The couple was hoping it would be third time lucky when they fulfilled a lifelong dream of getting married in costumes as Juan dressed as Captain Jack Sparrow, whilst Maria wore a traditional Galician dress.

They hoped the untraditional wedding would entertain their children as well, whilst getting guests to donate money to charities chosen by the couple instead of getting them wedding gifts.

However, their third wedding attempt failed to take place because of the charge.

Berto Pirata, also known as the Jack Sparrow of Vigo, and his girlfriend Maria Salinas, a Galician teacher who wanted to get married on 24th April 2021 in the municipality of Vigo in Spain and their two children. (Eva Garcia/Newsflash)

Juan posted a message on Facebook complaining that the judge took one look at them and said the union would not take place unless they dressed ‘properly’.

The couple, who are known in Galicia for their ‘Paper Elephants’ foundation which works with disadvantaged children, claimed that the groom even offered to remove his wig and hat but the judge was not interested in cooperating.

Juan said that: “The Judge had made her decision before even talking to us.”

Juan explained that he often wears pirate costumes when working with refugee children at the Greek Idomeni refugee camp where he has volunteered in the past, with many of the children calling him “Pirate” instead of Juan.

They wanted the wedding to be an opportunity to generate donations to three separate charities, asking their guests to make donations as supposed to buying them wedding gifts.

The couple filed a complaint as their lawyer claimed several notaries and judges reached out to him saying that what happened was completely illegal and the wedding should have gone ahead.

Berto Pirata, also known as the Jack Sparrow of Vigo, and his girlfriend Maria Salinas, a Galician teacher who wanted to get married on 24th April 2021 in the municipality of Vigo in Spain and their two children. (Eva Garcia/Newsflash)

Local media said Juan and Maria were finally married on Wednesday by the same judge after the massive protest persuaded officials to give the go-ahead for the unusual union.

Spanish news broadcast Antena 3 said the judge had refused to marry Juan and Maria because she could not confirm Juan’s identity with his identification papers due to his heavy makeup and costume.