(ATR) Police showed evidence to Around the Rings of contact between Patrick Hickey and two suspects in a scheme to sell tickets of the Olympic Council of Ireland.
The emails between Patrick Hickey and Marcus Evans, head of hospitality companyTHG, discuss selling Rio 2016 tickets.
Two emails between Hickey and Evans were shared with media at a news conference on Tuesday. The first emails date back to 2010, two years prior to when Hickey said he first heard of Evans. The other emails were from Aug. 3, two days before the Rio opening ceremony. Police have issued a warrant for the arrest of Evans, but he lives in the UK.
The emails also show Hickey offering tickets to Evans before the opening ceremony after Evans claimed the tickets would be for resale purposes. Rio civil police investigator Aloysio Falcao confirmed to ATRthey have correspondence between Hickey, Evans, Olympic Council of Ireland acting president William O’Brien and OCI chief executive Stephen Martin.
Martin and Ireland's chef de mission Kevin Kiltyare expected to speak to police on Aug. 25. The pair had their passports confiscated after the OCI offices in the Olympic Village were raided a few days ago.
"This Thursday because their lawyer wants to see all the documents," Falcao said. "This is a normal way in Brazil because the constitution allows for it."
In the emails from 2010, Hickey tells Evans the two men will "have our day in the sun," and spoke of not including "heavies of the IOC" during initial negotiations. THG was the OCI's authorized ticket reseller for the London 2012 and Sochi 2014 Olympics. But Pro10 were used for the Rio Games.
"There are some messages between Evans and Hickey that mentions [Mallon], and that he would collect the tickets in Brazil to sell for THG," Falcao said to ATR.
Falcao said police are trying to reach Irish authorities to try to get testimony from O’Brien and Hickey’s secretary Linda O'Reilly. O’Brien and O’Reilly left Brazil on Aug. 20 before police could seize their passports.
Rio police are still investigating the role of John Delaney, the second vice-president of the OCI. Falcao said that emails sent by Hickey linked to the ticketing scandal included Delaney and O’Brien. Delaney never came to the Rio 2016 Olympics, making contacting him difficult for Rio authorities.
"We need help, and if they want to contact the police in Brazil I would be very appreciative," Falcao said.
Hickey was denied a request for bail on Tuesday, meaning he will remain in jail as the legal process continues. His case may not come before a court for two to three months according to police.Hickey has been charged with three crimes, ticket touting, forming a cartel and illicit marketing. He could face up to seven years in Brazilian prison if convicted.
Hickey stepped down from all of his Olympic family roles in the wake of his arrest by Brazilian authorities.
Secretary General Cleared
Rio police have cleared Olympic Council of Ireland general secretary Dermot Henihan of wrongdoing in the ticketing scandal.
Police took Henihan in for questioning today and held a press conference after detailing new evidence. Henihan was one of three OCI members who had their passports seized by Rio police in order to ensure they were questioned in Brazil.
Written by Aaron Bauer in Rio de Janeiro
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