Neil Horan

Incidents

On 20 July 2003, Horan ran across the track at the Formula One British Grand Prix at Silverstone Circuit, wearing an orange skirt and waving a religious banner that read 'Read the Bible. The Bible is always right'. His protest occurred on the 200 mph Hangar Straight, forcing several drivers to swerve and prompting the safety car to be deployed. Track marshal Stephen Green tackled Horan and removed him from the track before his arrest.

Horan pleaded guilty to aggravated trespass and received a two-month prison sentence. At the 5 June 2004 Epsom Derby, police spotted Horan and shoved him to the ground moments before they believed he would run in front of the horses; he was released without charges, though police circulated information about him to other sporting events. A court order the following year barred him from coming within two miles of the racecourse. Despite tight security at the 2004 Athens Olympics, on 29 August Horan flew to Athens and ran onto the course of the men's marathon near the 35 km mark, carrying placards on his back and front.

He pushed Brazilian leader Vanderlei de Lima into the crowd alongside the course. Greek spectator Polyvios Kossivas hauled Horan off the shaken runner, subdued him, and helped de Lima back to the lane. Horan was arrested by Greek police, who were later criticized for inadequate runner protection. De Lima suffered leg cramps and muscle pain after the encounter, lost about 10 seconds from his 25-second lead, and finished third after being passed by Italian Stefano Baldini and American Mebrahtom Keflezighi at the 38 km mark.

De Lima later said the psychological shock was the greatest impact, describing the attack as painful and leaving him defenseless and exhausted.

Reactions

In 2004, Horan was found not guilty of indecent assault against a seven-year-old girl in 1991. He admitted being naked while the girl tickled him and while they played hide-and-seek, and during the court case claimed to own only one pair of tight-fitting green satin underpants that had never been washed because he needed them to 'always be ready for use', producing the pants from his pocket to show the jury. On 20 January 2005, Kevin McDonald, the Archbishop of Southwark, laicised Horan, who had not worked as a priest for 10 years for health reasons including depression.

Horan later stated he completely rejected the decision, appealed to 'the much higher court of heaven and the court of Jesus Christ', and said he could no longer preach or give Communion, calling himself 'little more than a pagan'. On 13 April 2007, Horan was served with an Anti-Social Behaviour Order banning him from entering, on the day of the race, any London borough that the London Marathon course passed through.