Neil Horan

Cornelius " Neil " Horan (born 22 April 1947, Scartaglen, County Kerry) is a suspended Catholic priest from Ireland who has been struck twice by disturbances of major sporting events.

Horan is the second oldest of 13 siblings and comes from Knockeenahone, Scartaglen. He studied theology in Killarney and Wexford and was ordained a priest in 1973. As early as 1974 he showed interest in the Bible fundamentally interpretative grouping The Apostolic Fellowship of Christ and resigned his priesthood. In 1980, he took it up again.

Horan published a book entitled A Glorious New World Very Soon to Come, in which the end of the world was prophesied. From his ecclesiastical superiors, he was asked to be treated psychiatrically. Due to its extreme statements and publications, he was later suspended.

At the Grand Prix of Great Britain on 20 July 2003 a round of the Formula 1 World Championship, he ran during the race on the track at Silverstone. After his spectacular failure of the Formula 1 race, he was arrested and sentenced to imprisonment.

On August 29, 2004 Horan, who was drunk, according to initial reports ran at the Summer Olympic Games in Athens on the marathon route, where he held the hitherto leading Brazilian Vanderlei de Lima and moved to the side. De Lima was eventually finishing third. His attack on the runners at the Marathon de Lima led after had pulled him off the track other viewers, to arrest by the Greek police. Subsequently, he was sentenced to a suspended sentence of 12 months and a fine of 3000 euros. During his campaign he carried a sign that read "The Grand Prix priest. Israel fulfillment of prophecy says the Bible, the second coming is near. "

Weblink

• Marathon attack: Irish preacher on random walk, article in Spiegel Online, August 30, 2004

• Roman Catholic theologian ( 20th century)
• Irishman
• Born in 1947
• Man