OCI President Pat Hickey Facing Multiple Charges.

Update:

Shane Ross to return to Dublin "as soon as possible."

“Today, I learned from our ambassador here in Brazil that a second Irish citizen has been arrested in connection with the Brazilian authorities' investigation into alleged ticket touting,” read the statement from Ross.

“I understand that person has accepted consular assistance and our Consul General is engaging with him. Given the seriousness of this matter, and in the interests of taking swift and decisive action, I will be returning to Dublin as quickly as possible. I will immediately consult with my officials, with Minister of State Patrick O'Donovan, and with the Attorney General with a view to considering the options open to the Government and decide the best course of action.”

Pat Hickey in happier times:


Update:

Pat Hickey remains at the Samaritano hospital under police guard but is due to be brought to a police station for questioning once he is released.

Update:

Pat Hickey has been formally charged with ticket-touting, forming a cartel & illicit marketing. Max prison sentence if found guilty: 7 years — Neil O'Riordan (@noriordan) August 17, 2016


Update:

IOC director of comms on Pat Hickey: "We'll be fully co-operating with any police investigation, should there be one." — Ben Rumsby (@ben_rumsby) August 17, 2016

Not much sympathy among Irish athletes

This mean I don't get my beach volleyball tickets I was promised? https://t.co/SkOHcBDWEh — Paddy Barnes (@paddyb_ireland) August 17, 2016

Update:

It appears that the investigation which has led to Hickey's arrest was requested by former Brazilian striker Romario, now a Brazilian politician.


In 2012, Hickey refuted claims by Romario that he had abused his position to allow his son, Stephen earn a job within THG.

What We Know So Far

This investigation is being led by the fraud unit of the civil police. This is the third stage of their inquiry.

One of the headlines from the story will surround an alleged escape attempt by Hickey upon arrest, but there's been conflicting reports around this.

The BBC used a police source to say that Hickey attempted to escape upon arrest. This was later explained by Jamil Chade - the man who broke the story - as Hickey not being present in his room owing to him looking for his son in an adjacent room.

Police at the press conference said that Hickey was in fact found in an adjacent room, although also claim that his wife told police that he had left the country following his meeting with Ross.

Update:


ESPN Brasil have released footage of Pat Hickey's arrest

Update:

Pat Hickey press conference is now over

News conference in Rio now over - photographers taking pictures of Pat Hickey's passport, Olympic ID etc pic.twitter.com/VHR9mNoIDm — Philip Bromwell (@philipbromwell) August 17, 2016

Update:

Brazilian police have said there is evidence of email correspondence between Marcus Evans and Pat Hickey during Olympics.

Evans, 52, is the owner and chairman of English Championship side Ipswich Town and a director of THG Sports.Fellow THG Sports director Kevin Mallon was arrested on August 5 in possession of almost 800 tickets and has been accused by police of seeking to sell them illegally on the black market, but THG has protested his innocence.

Update: Photo of arrest warrant:


The act of arrest pic.twitter.com/Sd3K5c0OFl — Jamil Chade (@JamilChade) August 17, 2016

Interesting profile of Pat Hickey here

Pat Hickey's accreditation lies on the table at the Civil Police Fraud Unit Press Conference in Rio #InphoInRio pic.twitter.com/cq6o1wQGdT — Inpho Photography (@Inphosports) August 17, 2016

Update:

Rio police conference on Pat Hickey arrest - media here in numbers pic.twitter.com/qD8SVMYmLo — Philip Bromwell (@philipbromwell) August 17, 2016




Update: The BBC reports "Police say the suspect, who also heads the Olympic Council of Ireland (OCI), tried to escape when they came for him. They say he slid his Olympic pass under the door when police came knocking and fled into the adjacent hotel room, where his son had been staying until recently.

A tweet from Brazilian journalist Jamil Chade suggested Hickey was also hospitalised at the time of his arrest.

Polícia do Rio prende um dos membros mais influentes do COI, Pat Hickey, por cambismo. Operação ocorreu nesta manhã no Rio. — Jamil Chade (@JamilChade) August 17, 2016

IOC member Hickey being taken to hospital after feeling sick at the moment he got arrested — Jamil Chade (@JamilChade) August 17, 2016

More updates as we get them.


Update - a picture of Pat Hickey has been tweeted:

Pat Hickey in his dressing gown when arrested this morning. This is just too bizarre for words #Rio2016 pic.twitter.com/ZgC8ATcfl9 — Neil Cotter (@NewsNeil13) August 17, 2016

The OCI released the following statement following the arrest:

The OCI is aware of the media stories regarding Pat Hickey and we are seeking total clarity on the situation before we comment further. Any updates will be made via the OCI website.

Shane Ross tweeted:

Shell shock here in Rio — Shane Ross (@Shane_RossTD) August 17, 2016


Meanwhile, Twitter has responded to the arrest in customary fashion:

REVEALED: Exclusive photo of Pat Hickey seconds before his arrest pic.twitter.com/hbEfIRuPrg — Second Captains (@SecondCaptains) August 17, 2016

Word reaches Pat Hickey that the police are here... pic.twitter.com/HyXWIA8wTE — Ed Smith (@edsongsofpraise) August 17, 2016