Updated at 5.30pm

Pat Hickey PA Wire / Press Association Images PA Wire / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

PAT HICKEY’S WIFE has left Rio, it was confirmed today.

Sylviana Hickey was in Rio with the former Olympics Council of Ireland chief when he was arrested.

Her husband was arrested at a Rio hotel earlier this month on suspicion of ticket touting, establishing a cartel and illicit marketing.

Hickey has stepped down from his role as Olympic Council of Ireland (OCI) boss while the investigation continues. He has denied any wrongdoing.

Today, it was confirmed that his wife has left the country. Her departure came as her husband’s lawyers made their second bail application last night.

They have applied for house arrest for Hickey.

He is currently in Bangu prison in Rio de Janeiro, sharing a cell with Kevin Mallon of THG.

OCI officials Kevin Kilty and Stephen Martin are due to be interviewed by police today. They have not been arrested, but their passports have been confiscated.

They have been compelled to meet police at 2.30pm today.

There is no suggestion of impropriety or any wrongdoing on the part of Kilty or Martin.

Filming of arrest

Earlier today a police commissioner from Rio de Janeiro defended the fact Pat Hickey was filmed as he was arrested in Brazil.

Speaking to Joe Duffy on RTÉ Radio 1′s Liveline today, Commissioner Aloysio Falcao defended the arrest being filmed, saying this is common in Brazil and something that needs to be taken up with the media rather than police.

Earlier this week, Dermot Sherlock, the former honorary general secretary of the OCI, called the filming of the arrest a “total and absolute disgrace”, and said it would not have happened in Ireland.

Screengrab / ESPN Screengrab / ESPN / ESPN

When Duffy asked Falcao if he was sorry the arrest was filmed he said: “No … I didn’t authorise that.”

He initially said a judge had ordered the arrest to be filmed but then clarified that this was incorrect. He said people need to bring the issue up with the media, adding the hotel’s security staff didn’t stop journalists from entering the building.

House arrest

Hickey’s lawyers made a bail application last night. If this is denied, they have asked that he be released from prison and placed under house arrest due to his age and health.

Falcao said house arrest is usually reserved for people over the age of 80 or those who are in bad health. Hickey is 71 years old and was initially taken to hospital after his arrest due to health concerns.

Falcao said he would not object to Hickey being placed under house arrest, so long as he doesn’t leave Brazil.

“He has to stay in Brazil because we have more questions about more people,” he said, adding that he hopes the case will be before the courts within three months.

Shane Ross 

Falcao said Brazilian police are in contact with Interpol, and want to talk to the Irish government and Sport Minister Shane Ross.

Yesterday, Ross announced the terms of reference of the non-statutory inquiry being held here into the ticket scandal. It will inquire into the actual processes – including procurement and contract awarding by the OCI – as well as the practice of reselling tickets as part of hospitality packages.

The scope of the Government inquiry will not just investigate the accreditation and ticket allocation by the OCI of the Rio Games. It will also investigate procedures in relation to the following:

• 2016 Summer Olympic Games;
• 2014 Winter Olympic Games;
• 2012 Summer Olympic Games.

Comments are closed for legal reasons. Additional reporting by Sinéad O’Carroll and Aoife Barry.

Read: OCI has appointed a security firm to secure, copy and seal all its data for the Government’s inquiry

Read: OCI member calls Pat Hickey’s arrest in front of TV cameras a “total and absolute disgrace”