On Sunday, hours before the Rio Games’ closing ceremony, police executed search warrants at the Olympic Village to seize passports and other items from three members of the Ireland committee, including Ireland team leader Kevin Kilty, chief executive Stephen Martin and secretary-general Dermot Henihan.
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Former High Court Judge Carroll Moran has been appointed to head the investigation into the Irish Olympic ticket scandal in Rio and will also probe sales for the 2012 Games in London.
Retired High Court judge Carroll Moran is to head up the non-statutory inquiry into the distribution of tickets for the Olympic Games in Rio.
While it is non-statutory – meaning he cannot compel witnesses to give testimony – the judge can recommend a full state investigation is launched.
It will also examine the policies, procedures, processes and practices adopted by the OCI governing the receipt, distribution and sale of tickets allocated by the International Olympic Committee to it for the summer and winter Olympic Games as well as procedures related to allocating accreditation for the Games.
PRO10 “served to facilitate tickets for THG, so it could tout those tickets, disguised through hospitality services”, said Mr Ricardo Barbosa, another of the police inspectors.
They later ruled out Henihan’s involvement in the alleged scheme, saying there was no evidence, after he appeared at police headquarters on Tuesday.
Mr Hickey, 71, was detained at a hotel in the Barra da Tijuca area on Wednesday and Rio police said he has been formally accused under Brazilian law of ticket touting, running a cartel and illicit marketing.
Brazilian police investigating allegations of Olympic ticket-touting have released emails between a senior Irish official and Ipswich Town Football Club owner Marcus Evans.
PRO10 and THG have denied wrongdoing.
THG has ties with Pro10, an accredited ticket seller at the Olympics.
A director of THG Sports, Mr Kevin Mallon, was arrested this month in Brazil and is now sharing a cell with Mr Hickey in the Bangu 10 prison.
Police said they seized hundreds of tickets from Mallon, some of which had the Olympic Council of Ireland name on them.
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During a news conference in Rio on Tuesday, investigating officers claimed they uncovered emails between Pat Hickey and Mr Evans dating from as far back as 2010. “We got seats at the Opening Ceremony”, Ms Adams said.
