Ireland’s Olympic chief Pat Hickey has been told he can leave Brazil four months after he was arrested and charged over ticket touting at Rio 2016.
Hickey and hospitality firm THG Sports’ Marcus Evans and Kevin Mallon were among nine charged with ticket touting, forming a criminal cartel, illicit marketing, embezzlement, tax evasion, and money laundering during the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro in August.
Hickey, who stepped aside as president of the Olympic Council of Ireland (OCI) after his arrest and detainment at Bangu Prison, is now to have his passport returned following a court ruling. He will be free to travel back to Ireland, but only on the condition that he agrees “to attend all aspects of the ongoing legal process, as requested, and in his absence that he maintain representation to receive intimations of the court”.
It is thought trial proceedings may begin in January. Hickey has protested his innocence throughout.
Hickey requested that his passport be returned on health grounds so that he could receive treatment back in Ireland. His €410,000 (£345,000/$435,000) bail bond was posted last month by the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC), a group that represents the 206 National Olympic Committees (NOCs) of which Hickey was a vice-president.
In a statement confirming payment of the bond, ANOC said “it can confirm that on humanitarian grounds they have agreed to temporarily loan the bail payment for Patrick Hickey to return home for medical reasons”.
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