A former priest yesterday donned Irish national costume and danced a jig in front of the Old Bailey after being acquitted of charges of indecency with a young girl.
Father Cornelius "Neil" Horan (57), who has made it his mission in life to proclaim the Second Coming of Christ, proclaimed it "the most wonderful day of my life" when a jury of four women and eight men took less than an hour to find him not guilty on two counts of indecency with the then seven-year-old girl more than a decade ago.
After hugging his barrister, Ms Julia Krish, Father Horan changed into a short red kilt and emerald green vest, socks and beret - and the green satin underpants that had been displayed in court - and danced what he called a "soft jig".
Father Horan vowed never again to perform publicity-seeking stunts at major international sporting events. After thanking his supporters, he said his first task would be to travel to Brazil to apologise to the runner Vanderlei de Lima, whose hopes for a gold medal at the Athens Olympics were dashed when Father Horan broke from the crowd lining the men's marathon route and barged into him in the final stages of the race.
Speaking outside the court, Father Horan covered his eyes and choked back tears as he said his experience should serve as a lesson for the priesthood that apparently innocent behaviour could be misconstrued.
"It is a warning to celibate priests that they have to take great care with female members of their congregations," he said. "Celibate priests are extremely vulnerable when dealing with unmarried mothers, single women, divorced women and so on."
Father Horan was charged with gross indecency in March this year, after a complaint was made to police by the Archdiocese of Southwark. The girl's mother had told a diocesan child protection officer of an incident that took place in mid-1991. The charge was later changed to indecency with a child.
The girl alleged in court that Father Horan had allowed her to touch his penis and rub it for 10 seconds or more.
The former priest told the court that while he had been naked in the presence of the woman and her daughter, and had played a game of hide-and-seek with them, which he called "innocent fun", he had at no time been sexually aroused.
In his summation, Judge Clifton told the jury that the girl's mother had been adamant that Father Horan was sexually aroused, but at no time had she seen her daughter's hand on his penis, "fondling it as [ the daughter] described, although she was fairly close to them at all times". The woman had told the court that her daughter "has always been worried about this incident but she [ the mother] believes Father Horan thinks it is natural to be naked."
The judge reminded the jury that Father Horan had told the court: "That part of my body is extremely sensitive. Had I had an erection I would have known about it. I never have had, nor will I have, sex with a woman."
Character witnesses, including Father Horan's 85-year-old landlady, had attested to his trustworthiness and their belief that he was incapable of such an offence, Judge Clifton said, adding that one of two clergymen who spoke for him "did refer to him as a bit of a nutcase".