By Daniel McConnell, Fiachra Ó Cionnaith, and Matt Sandy in Rio
Update 1.30pm: Pat Hickey faces very serious charges in a country that takes ticket touting extremely seriously.
That is the view of Professor of Law at Queens University Belfast Jack Anderson, who specialises in Sports Law.
Sports minister Shane Ross is to meet with the Attorney General tomorrow to discuss the ticketing scandal that led to the arrest of Pat Hickey in Rio yesterday.
The 71-year-old remains in Hospital in Rio and has temporarily stepped down as President of the OCI.
Officers in Brazil are waiting to speak to Mr Hickey in relation to three specific charges surrounding scalping of tickets.
Jack Anderson has said the matter is governed by its own specific laws in Brazil; “In Brazil they take this ticket touting very very seriously,
“They have had a history now of hosting major sporting events so they have dedicated federal legislation on ticket touting.
“They have also backed that up with their own criminal code as well.
“They see it in terms of consumer fraud, they also see it in terms of fraud on the public generally.”
Update 1pm: The Sports Minister Shane Ross is due to return to Ireland this evening following the arrest of Pat Hickey in Rio yesterday.
Shane Ross is to meet with the Attorney General tomorrow to discuss the ticketing scandal.
Update – 11am: Journalist Jamil Chade with the Estado newspaper in Brazil, who broke the story of Mr Hickey’s arrest, spoke about how the investigation is proceeding.
He said: “The prosecutors just a couple of hours ago, released information pointing that they are investigating all the material they got from Mr Hickey.
“Especially, an iPad that he had with him, and this is going to be investigated, especially the links between Mr Hickey and anyone related to ticketing.”
Sports Minister Shane Ross is to meet with the Attorney General tomorrow to discuss the ticketing scandal.
Minister Ross is en route back to Ireland following a dramatic week for Irish sport.
Update – 8.30am: The Olympic Council of Ireland says it will defend itself to the hilt in the wake of the Rio ticket touting scandal.
Interim President Wiliam O’Brien, who has been speaking to Channel 7 News, said: “We can’t make any comment on it at the moment while the legal case is going on here.
“We will defend ourselves to the hilt. That is all I can say.”
TDs have demanded an independent investigation.
Fianna Fáil’s Timmy Dooley said Mr Hickey’s arrest was “a seriously worrying development”.
“The OCI have until now insisted that no independent person be involved in its investigation into this scandal. This position is simply no longer tenable,” Mr Dooley said.
“It is important to acknowledge that OCI is in receipt of state funding. The public deserves answers as to how the OCI operates and how tickets allocated to Ireland were handled.”
Earlier: The shock arrest of Pat Hickey yesterday morning has all but ended the 71-year-old’s tenure as president of the Olympic Council of Ireland, which he has led since 1989.
There is mounting pressure on Mr Hickey to permanently resign from the Olympic Council Of Ireland.
The OCI says Mr Hickey is expected to remain in hospital with chest pains for a further 24 hours – his condition is described as stable.
The body says Mr Hickey will continue to co-operate with all ongoing enquiries until the matter is resolved.
Last night, Mr Hickey was forced to “temporarily step aside” as he is facing three charges of facilitating ticket touting, formation of a cartel, and ambush or illicit marketing.
The Irish Examiner understands that if convicted, Mr Hickey could face up to seven years in jail.
But sources close to the OCI said last night that they thought it would be “very difficult” for Mr Hickey to return to his post.
Senior government sources last night indicated that a full judicial inquiry into the scandal was now likely.
However they said that the scope and nature of it would be determined by events in Rio and what charges if any are brought against Mr Hickey.
The OCI said last night that vice president William O’Brien will assume the duties of president in Mr Hickey’s absence.
Police in Rio said warrants have also been issued for the arrest of three directors of the OCI’s ticket agent Pro10 — Michael Glynn, Ken Murray, and Eamon Collins.
An International Olympic Committee spokesman said: “The International Olympic Committee has been informed by the Olympic Council of Ireland that allegations have been made against its president Mr Patrick Hickey in relation to facilitating the selling of tickets above face value.
“The IOC respectfully takes note of the decision by Mr Hickey to step aside as president of the OCI and all other Olympic functions (IOC member in Ireland, EOC president, ANOC vice president) until this matter is fully resolved. Until then, the presumption of innocence prevails.”
Judge Mariana Tavares Shu, from a special Olympic court, confirmed the detention orders for Irish nationals Patrick Joseph Hickey, Ken Murray, Eamonn Anthony Stephen Collins and British national Michael Glynn in a statement.
The order is to prevent any of those in Brazil from leaving, as happened with other individuals during a touting investigation during the 2014 World Cup.
She said: “Preventive detention ensures the smooth running of the criminal process and the application of criminal law. All involved are foreigners and do not have permanent residence in this country, so it seems likely that, if they remained at liberty, they might avoid justice. I cite the example of James Sinton… of the Marcus Evans Group at the time of the World Cup 2014, who, once set free, escaped to his country of origin.”
At a press conference yesterday afternoon, police said when they arrived at his hotel room Mr Hickey’s wife told them he had left the country.
Officers found Sylviane Hickey alone in the room but many of her husband’s possessions still in the room, police reported.
Dramatic footage of Mr Hickey’s arrest emerged which showed he was naked when he answered the door to officers.
At the time of his arrest, Mr Hickey complained of feeling unwell and cited an existing heart condition. He was then seen and examined by a doctor.
It was decided that as a precaution, given his age and his previous condition, that he be removed to a nearby hospital in Barra.
At the press conference, Mr Hickey’s passport, Olympic credentials, and air ticket were presented to the media by the police.
Transport Minister Shane Ross, who has decided to leave Rio on foot of the Hickey arrest, said he was “shell shocked” at the news.
In a statement, the OCI confirmed Mr Hickey’s decision to vacate his position.
“In light of this morning’s developments and his ill health, Mr Hickey has taken the decision to step aside temporarily as president of the OCI and all other Olympic functions (IOC member in Ireland, EOC president, ANOC vice president) until this matter is fully resolved. Mr Hickey will of course continue to co-operate and assist with all ongoing enquiries,” the statement said.
Police told reporters that evidence of emails and messages on Mr Hickey’s phone are being investigated.
They say they have found evidence of communication between Mr Hickey and Marcus Evans on Mr Hickey’s phone; THG Group is owned by the Marcus Evans Group.
Among the items released was a copy of the legal advice used by Mr Hickey in his meeting on Sunday with Mr Ross.
According to Rio police, Mr Hickey was told by a senior legal adviser to put Mr Ross “in his place” on the eve of the crunch meeting.
PRO10 Sports Management said it has always acted properly and fully within the guidelines.
