Prior to his arrest he had met twice in tense circumstances with Ross in Rio, with the Minister putting pressure on Hickey to allow an independent member to be placed on the OCI’s inquiry into the scandal.
Advertisement
Arriving in Dublin Airport this afternoon, Mr Ross said he expects to announce a full Independent Inquiry tomorrow, in the wake of the arrest of OCI President Pat Hickey.
17 de agosto de 2016, 17:51Rio de Janeiro, Aug 17 (Prensa Latina) The Brazilian police arrested today Patrick Hickey, an Irish member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) over his alleged involvement in a network of illegal sale of tickets for the Olympic Games.
The Olympic Council of Ireland said in a statement that Hickey has temporarily stood down from his roles following his arrest.
A member of the IOC’s ruling executive board, Hickey was in charge of the influential umbrella group for Europe’s Olympic bodies.
The Irishman was found naked when officers knocked on his son’s hotel room door after Mr Hickey’s wife told police he had left for Ireland.
In a statement, the Olympic Council of Ireland says it is aware of the arrest and we are seeking total clarity on the situation before we comment further’.
Fianna Fail vice president Timmy Dooley said Mr Hickey’s arrest was “a seriously worrying development”.
Asked about legal advice which encouraged Mr Hickey to “put Shane Ross back in his box”, the Minister said it was odd but they would not be the first to express such a view.
He denied any connection to THG in an interview last week with Irish broadcaster RTE, saying: “There is no impropriety whatsoever from anyone within the OCI or myself in the dealing of tickets”.
She often attends high-profile events and was pictured at Katie Taylor’s 2015 European Games semi-final fight alongside her husband and vice-president of the Olympic Council of Ireland (OCI) William O’Brien.
Pending the investigation, Hickey has temporarily stepped down from all his offices.
Another Irish executive was arrested in the same probe last week.
Police said Wednesday that Patrick Hickey is accused of plotting with at least six others to illegally sell tickets for the Olympics.
Hickey had previously said that there was “no impropriety whatsoever from anyone in the OCI or myself in the dealing of tickets”.
Hickey is a former Irish judo athlete.
Kevin James Mallon is director of THG Sports, a corporate sports and hospitality company based in London.
Authorities have also issued warrants for four more executives at the company, THG.
Advertisement
Coincidentally, Match’s loss-making operations at the 2010 World Cup received a boost when THG staff were arrested for ticket selling in South Africa, using laws that Federation Internationale de Football Association supported being introduced for the tournament.
