Pat Hickey unlikely to make it home this weekend

Pat Hickey is expected to return to Ireland in the coming days but the likelihood of him making it home this weekend dimmed yesterday.

The head of the Olympic Council of Ireland (OCI), who temporarily stepped down from the post following his arrest at the Rio Games in August, had been expected to have his passport returned to him yesterday, paving the way for him to fly back to Ireland.

Bail worth 1.5m Brazilian reals (€410,000) was also lodged to facilitate his release from custody, as he has been detained since August on charges of ticket-touting, formation of a cartel, and illicit marketing, all of which he has strenuously denied.