Grand prix protest priest faces charge for Silverstone incursion

THE Irish priest who captured world media attention by running down the track at Silverstone on Sunday during the high speed grand prix race is facing one count of aggravated trespass following an incident at the Northamptonshire circuit.

No plea was entered and magistrates in Northampton yesterday adjourned the case for seven days.

The priest, originally from Kerry, spoke only to confirm his full name, Cornelius Horan, age and address during the brief hearing.

Chairman of the bench Richard Nelson told Horan his next appearance before the court would be via video-link from prison.

“Remember it took only 20 minutes to destroy the Twin Towers on September 11. The end is closer than we think,” Horan predicted recently.

Fr Neil Horan, aged 56, from Scartaglen, County Kerry, has been making grim predictions for many years, but sees himself as an agent of peace in a troubled world. Dressed in a kilt, he has been stepping it out and dancing around the globe for peace. He also believes the rich cultural heritage of his native Sliabh Luachra, famous for its traditional music and dance, is guaranteed a place in the post-Armageddon world.

“Music will play a huge part in lifting the human spirit after the Final War,” says the London-based cleric who describes himself as a Catholic priest on sabbatical.

“I took up step dancing when I was studying theology in St Peter’s College, in Wexford, mainly because I can’t sing,” adding that he’s no Michael Flatley, but still wants to use his talents in the best way he can.

Ordained in 1973 by Bishop Eamon Casey and posted to England, his talent came in useful when he started working in multicultural parishes, mainly in the London area. “Dance is a powerful way of bridging the gap between different nationalities. Language barriers tend to come into a song, but dance is visual. Dancing introduces a lighter side to things.”

Fr Horan believes that war will be instrumental in the formation of what he terms the New Kingdom. He says that suffering is the price to be paid for the “joyful” post-apocalyptic world, which he feels should come into being in the next 10 years or so.

According to Fr Horan’s theory of the Second Coming, Christ will rule the world from Jerusalem and there will be two classes of people: “immortal saints,” who will rule a world government for 1,000 years from Jerusalem, and “mortal citizens,” who will become “adopted Jews” and live for 900 years.

In response to his campaign, Father Horan has received a huge number of letters over the years from politicians, including Tony Blair, embassies and celebrities.

In 1987, Margaret Thatcher’s press secretary Michael Alison wrote telling the priest that the then prime minister thanked him for his “sterling efforts in the cause of promoting world peace”.

Long known for his use of unconventional methods to grab attention and get his message across, he performed his peace dance during the Iraq War outside the House of Commons. Last year, he wrote to Saddam Hussein offering to perform the peace dance for him and his family. The offer was not accepted.

He is based in the South London parish of Nunhead where he devotes his days to counselling and biblical interpretation.