OCI blames Hickey letter for halting ticket review

The Olympic Council of Ireland has blamed a legal letter from its former president Pat Hickey for its decision to postpone an independent review into the Rio ticketing controversy.

In a statement issued late last night following a meeting of the OCI executive committee, it said the Grant Thornton review will only be completed following the conclusion of criminal proceedings against Mr Hickey in Rio.

“This decision was taken following the receipt of a letter from Mr Hickey’s lawyers this week in which he threatened to make an application to the High Court for an injunction preventing the completion of the review,” the OCI said.