Michael Clifford: Pat Hickey ran Olympic Council like a fiefdom

Families were treated as irritants rather than members of the wider Olympic family, writes Michael Clifford.

Last August, Sara Treacy’s father Liam told of the trouble he had in trying to acquire tickets to see his daughter fulfil a lifetime ambition.

Sara was competing in the 3000m at the Rio Olympics, but her family had to scramble to see her. There was no luck with official agent, Pro10. After repeated calls, a voice told Liam Treacy that there were not many tickets left.