A Cork GP has been found guilty of poor professional performance on four counts by the Medical Council.
Dr David Murphy admitted to overprescribing tranquillisers and painkillers, amounting to poor professional performance, at a Medical Council fitness-to-practise inquiry.
Dr Murphy, at a practice in Lisvane, Curragheen Road in Cork, accepted four out of five allegations.
Dr Murphy denies it amounts to professional misconduct, or that he failed to act in the best interests of patients.
On the issue of sanction, the inquiry heard that Dr Murphy will agree not to work again as a GP, or prescribe tranquillisers or painkillers.
He will also agree to work solely in his role at the Department of Social Protection and as a forensics examiner with a Sexual Assault Treatment Unit.
The fitness to practise committee will decide on the sanction in private and Dr Murphy will be notified of its determination.
The issues first emerged in 2008 following a complaint to the Medical Council by a local pharmacist about the high level of prescribing of benzodiazepines and opioids.
Barrister Tom Hogan, for the Medical Council's CEO, said a neighbour of Dr Murphy also complained about anti-social behaviour by patients outside the surgery and alleged drug dealing by some patients.
However, this does not form part of the allegations before the inquiry.
Mr Hogan told the inquiry that in light of Dr Murphy's admissions, four of the five allegations would merit the circumstances of the case.
The Medical Council sought an analysis of Dr Murphy's prescribing from the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland.
It carried out a two year analysis to March of 48 patients.
At the inquiry, barrister Shane Murphy for the GP said he admitted to prescribing the drugs in inappropriate quantities, that he failed to refer patients to a specialist substance misuse care, did not take adequate medical histories or maintain adequate records.
An expert report for the inquiry found the level of opioid prescribing as extraordinarily high.
The inquiry has heard that Dr Murphy's surgery closed in May 2012 and that he has not practised as a GP since.
Mr Murphy said his client dealt with a patient group that was very challenging.
Dr Murphy, who is 66, qualified in 1973, and has never had a finding against him.
He now works at the Department of Social Protection with a team examining applicants for disability.
The inquiry has heard that there is no evidence that any patient of Dr Murphy suffered harm.
He was a single-handed GP in a stressful, isolated experience.
His legal team said there was a lack of access to specialist treatment in Cork.
He also inherited patients who were on prescriptions and were dependent.
The inquiry has concluded.
