THERE WERE shockwaves today as news that Olympic Council of Ireland president Pat Hickey was arrested in Rio.
Mr Hickey was arrested at a hotel in Barra da Tijuca, in the western region of Rio de Janeiro, Brazilian newspaper Estadao reported this morning.
After a scandal-ridden Olympics so far, Irish people took to social media to share their thoughts on the news.
Here is a flavour of what they said:
Some fans were left stunned by the breaking news
Wow. Pat Hickey has been arrested: https://t.co/fX3QekpaZm
— Tom Lyons (@TomLyonsBiz) August 17, 2016
The International Olympic Committee were tight-lipped, apparently
A dozen IOC members including ANOC's Gunilla Lindberg tell me at IOC hotel: "We can't comment on Pat Hickey. We don't know anything"
— Jens Weinreich (@JensWeinreich) August 17, 2016
One sports fan summed up the Irish reaction
It speaks to both the humour of the Irish psyche and our sad familiarity with corruption that we respond to the #PatHickey news with mirth.
— James O'Sullivan (@jamescosullivan) August 17, 2016
Some say Pat Hickey has form
Not a good few weeks for #PatHickey. Remember he tried to dismiss the McLaren report too and staunchly supported the Russians. #Rio2016
— Kieran Cuddihy (@kierancuddihy) August 17, 2016
But some saw the lighter side of the situation, including boxer Paddy Barnes
This mean I don't get my beach volleyball tickets I was promised? https://t.co/SkOHcBDWEh
— Paddy Barnes (@paddyb_ireland) August 17, 2016
Who also wanted to know if he needed to hitch a lift home...
Hopefully this ticket scandal doesn't include our flight tickets home!
— Paddy Barnes (@paddyb_ireland) August 17, 2016
And of course there were a few Father Ted references
"The money was just resting in my account." #PatHickey #Olympics pic.twitter.com/JS7dGJVdSc
— Ted Quote of the Day (@FrTedQOTD) August 17, 2016
#PatHickey live from Police custody pic.twitter.com/JbWj19hsem
— Jim (@JimNotBob) August 17, 2016
The humour didn't stop there
Has Michaela McCollum reached out to Pat Hickey yet? #PatHickey #OCI
— Denis Spillane (@spillaneda) August 17, 2016
Sage advice for #PatHickey #michaellamccollum #Rio2016 pic.twitter.com/tGJVpr9F1C
— Rory Cooke (@CookieDub1) August 17, 2016
And finally, a musical suggestion
Pat Hickey's Spotify playlist: pic.twitter.com/z3oHhSj6A2
— Keith Mc Gouran (@dublinkeith1972) August 17, 2016
