The former Labour TD Dr Moosajee Bhamjee spoke of the "emotional trauma" he had endured over the past 1 1/2 years arising from charges of professional misconduct.
Dr Bhamjee was speaking yesterday after the Irish Medical News revealed that he had been cleared of charges of professional misconduct by a fitness to practise committee of the Medical Council.
It is understood the charges arose from complaints made to the council about two men - both reportedly suffering from chronic alcoholism - who were not admitted to Our Lady's Hospital, Ennis, Co Clare. . It is understood the complaints were made by the men's wives.
Yesterday Dr Bhamjee, who gave up his Dail seat at the last election, said he was relieved to have been absolved of professional misconduct.
"It is a great relief, not only to me, but to my family. It has been a stressful time. My job was at risk. If I had no job I would have had to leave the country."
The consultant psychiatrist, who is based at Our Lady's Hospital, described the "emotional trauma" he had gone through since the charges were made known to him. "There have been sleepless nights, feelings of depression, anxiety, misery, asking yourself questions and even deeper thoughts that come into your head."
Despite the relief, Dr Bhamjee said some of the rumours circulating in regard to his professional life during the past 18 months had been quite malicious. "It has been a tough year a and a half. I try to keep it to myself, but it comes out sometimes in frustration, anger, irritability. At home you sometimes don't want to talk to anybody because these cases can go any way."