The family of the former Olympic Council of Ireland president have made their concerns known to the media.
The family of imprisoned former OCI president Pat Hickey have issued a list of concerns over his current detention in a high security prison in Rio.
Hickey was arrested last week amid accusations that he was involved in illegal ticket touting for the Olympic Games.
Following a night in hospital that followed his arrest in a Rio hotel, he was then moved to the high security Bangu Prison in the Brazilian city.
According to RTÉ, the family is ‘deeply concerned’ at the fact that what was “purported to be evidence (was shown) to the media” without any right of reply on Hickey’s behalf.
Through their solicitor, the family issued a statement about how Hickey had been imprisoned without charge and without a proper venue for a bail hearing having been found.
The family named these five points as ‘deeply concerning’ to them:
– The manner in which Hickey was arrested
– His detention in a high security prison without charge
– The effects of that detention on Pat Hickey’s health
– The pre-trial disclosure of what is purported to be evidence to the media without any right of a reply (which is leading and (sic) imbalanced reporting)
– Pat Hickey’s right to a fair hearing, given the prejudicial way in which he has been treated to date.
The added in their statement that it was, “entirely inappropriate and unacceptable for a 71-year-old Irish citizen to be taken from his bedroom, arrested and walked in a state of undress before a pre-arranged camera crew, after which film and still shots were released to the global media.”
They said that Hickey, “has a serious heart condition and they are extremely anxious that he would be immediately released on bail and given the opportunity to respond to the accusations.
“They also, as a priority, want to get him home to Ireland as they have increasing concerns about his safety.”
They are calling on Minister Shane Ross and Charlie Flanagan to intervene, and “immediately issue a statement setting out the steps the Department of Foreign Affairs is taking to object to the manner in which an elderly Irish citizen was arrested and is still being detained in Brazil.”
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