A Dublin businessman was yesterday given permission by the High Court to travel to London for medical purposes. Counsel for a number of investors had expressed concern that Mr Thomas O'Keeffe would not be seen again if he was allowed to leave the State.

Mr Justice Murphy said if Mr O'Keeffe, from The Sweepstakes, Ballsbridge, Dublin, required the return of his passport in connection with his London visit, he should apply to the receiver of his assets, solicitor Mr James Gillion.

Either Mr O'Keeffe or the receiver must then come back to court to inform it of the release of the passport, he said.

Mr O'Keeffe was last month jailed for a fortnight for failure to comply with court orders directing him to provide information about large sums of money he was given to invest. In April, the court had ordered his arrest after he failed to appear before it to answer questions in connection with his handling of such monies.

Yesterday, Mr John Trainor SC, for US businessman Mr John O'Neill, who says he handed over $5 million (€5.3 million) to Mr O'Keeffe to invest, said it appeared Mr O'Keeffe had now made a statement enabling him to comply with the court directive.

Mr O'Keeffe was also seeking a deviation from earlier court orders and counsel had no objection provided conditions were attached.

Mr Charles Meenan SC, for other investors including golfer Mr Des Smyth, who are seeking the return of €700,000, referred to a "reprehensible exercise" when Mr O'Keeffe's legal adviser took a call last April saying the businessman was dead. The court was entitled to take the view that if he was allowed leave the jurisdiction, that would be the last that would be seen of the businessman.

Mr O'Keeffe said he might need to visit Cromwell Street hospital in London for medical purposes. He also sought an allocation of living expenses from the receiver and wanted a reduction - from $10 million to $6.5 million - of the level below which he must not reduce his assets. Mr Justice Murphy refused to alter the $10 million asset figure. However, he authorised an application to the receiver for the release of €3,000 per month for living expenses.

The proceedings were adjourned to July 5th.