January 20, 2005

Olympic pest defrocked as priest

BRITAIN
Sydney Morning Herald

January 21, 2005 - 8:34AM

The man who disrupted the men's marathon at the Athens Olympics last year was defrocked as a Roman Catholic priest in England.

"I now cannot preach. I cannot give out communion. I am little more than a pagan," said Neil Horan, who tackled Brazilian runner Vanderlei de Lima late in the event.

De Lima, who was leading the race when Horan jumped out of the crowd, quickly resumed running, but finished third.

Horan also disrupted the British Grand Prix Formula One race in 2003 by wandering on the track and doing what he called a peace dance.

In October, Horan was acquitted on a charge of indecency with a seven-year-old girl in 1991.

Posted by kshaw at January 20, 2005 06:25 PM