Olympic marathon saboteur: 'My last stunt'

The defrocked Irish priest who sabotaged the Olympic Marathon vowed today that his illegal stunt days are over.

Cornelius Horan, 57, was given a one-year suspended sentence by a Greek court after attacking the race leader, Brazilian Vanderlei de Lima, in Sunday’s event.

It was the second time he had interrupted a major sporting event after running on to the track at Silverstone during last year’s British Formula One Grand Prix.

Horan, a former Catholic priest who says he is highlighting the “second coming of Christ”, pledged never to pull off a similar prank again.

He said: “I have done it twice now and I do not want to do it again.

“I promise never to do it again because it could damage my mission and it could land me in jail.”

Horan pushed Marathon leader de Lima into the crowd after leaping out on him on the final day of the Athens Games.

De Lima recovered but could only finish in third place to claim the bronze. Horan offered him an apology when he appeared in court on Monday morning.

Today, Horan said: “I did it for the same reason as Silverstone.

“I want to give a world stage to the greatest book in the world, the Holy Bible, and for the greatest event that is going to happen in our lifetime, the Second Coming of Christ.

“The 21st century demands different reactions and I believe major events are the only way to capture people’s imagination and attention.”

Horan flew out to Athens on Sunday morning just hours before his stunt for which he wore a green beret, a red kilt and knee-high green socks.

He said he chose the “legendary” Athens Marathon because he could think of no better world stage.

Appearing before a three member Greek court he was fined €2,958 and given the suspended

sentence.

He could have been jailed for five years, but was apparently shown mercy because of his questionable mental state.

Horan, originally from Kerry but who now lives in Nunhead, south London, said he deeply regretted having to target de Lima but hoped he would be “rewarded by God” on Judgment Day.

He added: “It was a terrible tragedy for me personally to have to take down that little man.

“It hurt me and it almost brought me to tears when I saw it on the television later.

“I pray God will give him something even greater than a gold medal.”

Horan’s family said they were shocked by his actions and wanted to apologise to the Brazilian people.

The former priest was jailed for two months last year when he caused Formula One drivers to swerve at high speeds when he invaded the track.

He has been barred from practising as a priest for the past decade. He once published a book called “A glorious new world very soon to come” that predicted the imminent end of the world.

Horan has worked as a peace campaigner and received praise from politicians for his work. He has also advanced more bizarre theories connected to his beliefs that the Second Coming is nigh.

The International Olympic Committee awarded de Lima the Pierre de Coubertin Medal to recognise his “exceptional demonstration of fair play and Olympic values” in continuing with the race after Horan’s attack.

The committee refused Brazil’s request to change the result.