Athens marathon attacker sentenced
ATHENS, Greece -- A former Catholic priest has been given a one-year suspended sentence in Greece after pushing the leader of the men's marathon into the crowd during the Athens Olympics.
Vanderlei De Lima, from Brazil, was at the head of the race Sunday, just three miles from the finish, when he was attacked by Cornelius Horan, who was wearing a kilt and beret.
After a scuffle, De Lima managed to get away, but he was clearly upset and finished third.
Horan, 57, originally from Kerry, Ireland, had a note pinned to his back, reading: "The Grand Prix Priest. Israel Fulfillment of Prophecy Says The Bible."
"Greece has a long tradition with Saint Paul and Alexander the Great," he told police officers after his arrest. "Christ deserves a greater honor. I am not a Jew but I love them."
Horan also disrupted Britain's Silverstone Formula One Grand Prix last year by dashing across the track. He was sentenced to two months for aggravated trespass then.
After his arrest Sunday, police issued a press release saying the man had "strong psychological disturbances" and was taken to the General Police Division of Attica where he spent the night in a cell.
On Monday, a three-member court found him guilty of violating Greek laws on extracurricular sports and fined him €3,000 (U.S.$3,605), according to The Associated Press.
The court told Horan he would have to serve the sentence if he violated any laws in Greece for the next three years.
Athens Police confirmed that Horan went to Athens only for the Olympic marathon as he arrived from London, where he lives, earlier on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Brazil's Olympic Committee said it will appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) over the assault.
The Brazilians protested immediately after the event, asking for De Lima to be given a duplicate gold medal, but it was turned down.
The International Olympic Committee gave De Lima a special medal named after the founder of the modern Olympics, Pierre De Coubertin, in recognition of his "exceptional demonstration of fair play and Olympic values."
Despite this, the Brazilians have now decided to take the case to sport's highest legal body.
They want the result reviewed on the basis that De Lima was not given the necessary security on the streets of Athens and this stopped him winning.
Earlier in the Athens Games, Canadian Ron Bensinhom, caused a stir by splashing into the Olympic pool during the men's 10m diving final.
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Associated Press contributed to this report.
