The saga moves on, the confusion remains.
Pat Hickeys family were at great pains last night to insist that no charges have been laid against the former Head of the Olympic Council of Ireland.
They are technically correct as the Brazilian justice system is different to ours. The prosecutor’s office has laid out a series of charges which can now be either accepted or rejected by a judge in the Special Court for Spectators and Large Events.
Those ‘charges’ are extensive in terms of the Brazilian laws alleged to have been broken. They include providing tickets for purposes of touting, tax evasion, fraud, false advertising and more.
There is also an indication that at least one more Irish person will be named in potential charges arising out of evidence gleaned from computer and mobile phone records.
Hickey appeared before the prosecutors yesterday but maintained his right to silence when a total of 14 questions were put to him.
This could all be over within days if the judge decides the evidence is not sufficient enough to press the charges.
The confidence of the prosecutors though would suggest that is the less likely option and that this will run for some time to come.
If the charges are accepted it is likely given the prominence of the case that a trial would be convened quicker than the two years which have been suggested as a potential timeframe.
What impact the potential criminal case has on the ability to publish the results of the multiple investigations going on in Ireland into the Olympic Council of Ireland investigation is uncertain.
