In the Conrad Hotel tonight, the full cost to the OCI of Pat Hickey's arrest in Rio was disclosed.
In total, the episode has cost the Olympic Council of Ireland €628,000. The sum was broken down in these ways;
Law firm Arthur Cox were paid €394,000 for legal advice. Consultants firm Grant Thornton were handed €214,900. Deloitte were paid €18,500 for conducting a report into the governance practices at the OCI.
PR firm The Communications Clinic were paid €69,500 for helping the OCI deal with the fallout.
The OCI treasurer Billy Kennedy told those present that the cost was borne by the associations' insurers AIG.
Notwithstanding the inconveniences of the last six months, the outgoing President was lionized all evening. Hickey wasn't present but he was heartily praised by general secretary Dermot Henihan (pictured below) for transforming the OCI into a much more professional operation.
Prior to 1993, he said, the OCI had to make do with holding meetings in officials' houses. Whereas nowadays they boast a "beautiful headquarters" in Olympic House in Howth.
"As far as I'm concerned he is a great part of the OCI and it will always be part of him," Henihan said. He added that Hickey, who rose to great heights in the international Olympic administration, was respected around the Olympic world.
I have no doubt Pat Hickey will succeed to clear his name and have the charges made against him dismissed... He will be sadly missed.
According to reports, Henihan's speech was met with wide applause.
Later on, Sarah Keane, the CEO of Swim Ireland was elected as the new OCI President after securing 29 of the 42 available votes. Acting President Willie O'Brien finished a distant 2nd on 12, with former FAI chief executive Bernard O'Byrne garnering 2 votes.
