Former OCI President Pat Hickey to return home

A judge in Brazil has ruled that former Olympic Council of Ireland president Pat Hickey is allowed the leave the country for medical reasons.

Mr Hickey was arrested in August as part of an investigation into alleged ticket touting at the 2016 Rio Olympics and is among ten people facing charges.

Although he was released almost two weeks after his arrest, the 71-year-old has been unable to leave the country as officials seized his passport.

However, Justice Juliana Leal de Melo of the Special Court for Supporter and Large Events in Rio de Janeiro, which had jurisdiction during the Olympic and Paralympic Games, has ruled that Mr Hickey be allowed to leave Brazil 'to treat a health problem'.

In her judgement, Ms Justice Juliana Leal de Melo acknowledged there is a risk that Mr Hickey will not return to Brazil for the trial but balanced it against his need for treatment.

He must pay a bond of €410,000 and agree to fully cooperate with the legal process in Brazil.

"Thus, certified the payment of the bail, hereby fixed, as well as rendered the commitment of cooperation with the justice by the defendant, I authorise the release of the passport of the same, as well as that the defendant leaves the country to treat his health," she wrote in her judgement.

Meanwhile, the judge has agreed that the case be split with Marcus Evans, Michael Glynn, Ken Murray, Maarten Van Os, David Gilmore, and Martin Studd answering to one legal process and Mr Hickey, Kevin Mallon, Barbara Carnieri and Eamonn Collins answering to another.

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