When asked by The Irish Times whether Mr O’Brien had come home earlier than initially planned, the OCI said his transport arrangements were part of a scheduled plan.
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Pat Hickey is escorted from hospital in Rio.
RTÉ says the development is part of an ongoing investigation and there is nothing to suggest impropriety on the part of any of those involved. Brazilian police are trying to acquire the passports of three other individuals linked to the OCI.
The OCI issued a statement on Monday, after its executive committee met for the first in person since the Rio Games began.
Hickey “temporarily” stood down from his official positions after the arrest so the International Olympic Committee ethics commission has not yet launched an official investigation.
Brazilian police are seeking to acquire the passports of three other people connected to the OCI. They agreed to do so.
Under the leadership of Hickey, the OCI in Brazil is alleged to have sold Olympic tickets that Rio officials allocated for athletes and their families.
A Rio police official said: “We are continuing the investigation into the worldwide scheme of ticket scalping”.
Mr Hickey has been formally accused under Brazilian law of ticket touting, running a cartel and illicit marketing.
Another unbelievable twist in the Olympics ticketing scandal.
Management and the worldwide sports hospitality company, THG Sports.
Mr Hickey is now being held in Bangu prison, along with Dubliner Thomas Mallon, as police investigate an alleged scheme that saw the OCI use authorised ticket reseller PRO10 as a front for Mallon’s THG, who are barred from doing business in Brazil following the 2014 Fifa World Cup. Mr Hickey has denied any wrongdoing. Hickey was due to be spending the closing ceremony of the Olympics in Rio’s Bangu prison complex after his lawyers failed to secure his release on bail.
The discussions were to be chaired by the OCI’s acting boss Willie O’Brien, who took over after Hickey temporarily stepped aside.
The meeting was attended by the majority of the OCI’s 12 board members.
The group is comprised of OCI executive committee members Sarah Keane of Swim Ireland, Prof Ciaran O’Cathain of Athletics Ireland and Robert Norwood of Snowsports Association of Ireland.
“His arrest has no legal support”.
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The head of the sports hospitality company THG Sports – which was licensed to resell London 2012 and Sochi 2014 Olympic tickets – was arrested on charges of illegal sales.
