Jim McDaid questions need for OCI following ticket scandal

A former sports minister has called on the Government’s inquiry into the ticket touting scandal to examine whether there is any need for the Olympic Council of Ireland to exist, after claiming Pat Hickey ran the group “like he was the ruler of a small country”.

Jim McDaid made the claim on RTÉ’s Drivetime yesterday, before the OCI’s expected appointment today of an international accountancy firm to oversee its own ticket touting investigation.

Asked about his experience of Mr Hickey, with whom Mr McDaid was embroiled in a public spat during the Sydney 2000 Olympics, the former Fianna Fáil TD said Mr Hickey handled the organisation “like he was the ruler of small country”.