FORMER Olympic Council of Ireland President Pat Hickey will return to Ireland for health treatment, a Brazilian judged has ruled.
Judge Juliana Leal de Melo of the Special Court for Supporter and Large Events made the ruling on November 16.
Mr Hickey was placed on house arrest in Rio de Janeiro on August 30 having been released on probation from Bangu 10 prison in the city.
On August 17, he was arrested at his hotel room in the Barra de Tijuca district of Rio, in relation to allegations of illegal reselling of Olympic tickets for the Rio games.
In a statement released earlier this year, Mr Hickey referred to his house arrest, the charges against him, and how he intends to “defend his good name”.
“I have just received formal notification from the Brazilian authorities of the charges laid against me […] I intend to face all the charges and to fight each and every one of them,” he said.
“I am completely innocent of all such charges and I will also vigorously defend my good name and character that I have spent my lifetime building through voluntary service for numerous sporting bodies,” he added.
“This has been a life changing experience for me, my wife, my four children and my five grandchildren and my priority is to recover my health and see my family as soon as possible.”
Judge de Melo set Mr Hickey's bail at $ 1.5m Brazilian reals, just over £353,259.
The Judge said after the payment of his bail, she would "authorise the release of the passport [...] as well as the defendant may leave the country to treat his health."
After his arrest in August, Mr Hickey suffered some pains in his chest and, due to an existing heart condition, was taken to Samaritano Hospital for a medical evaluation.
