A nurse came before a Nursing and Midwifery Board inquiry for allegedly having the drug crystal methamphetamine in his possession and for ordering another drug from the hospital pharmacy using the names of other staff.
John Benedict Butalid de Lara was employed as a staff nurse at the Royal Hospital Donnybrook in Dublin from December 2003 to November 2014.
The Royal Hospital is a convalescent and rehabilitation facility for older people, which is operated as an independent charity and funded by the HSE.
Lawyers for Mr de Lara told the inquiry that in criminal court proceedings in 2014, he admitted to possession of crystal methamphetamine.
His barrister John McGuigan said Mr de Lara had also admitted to putting the crystal methamphetamine into his mouth at the time, in obstruction of a Garda direction.
Mr McGuigan told the inquiry that arising from criminal proceedings, Mr de Lara was not convicted, as the judge applied the Probation Act.
He said he would be seeking the fitness-to-practise inquiry to deal with the matter in a manner less than erasure from the register.
The inquiry heard allegations that Mr de Lara ordered the nasal decongestant, Sudafed, from the hospital pharmacy in May 2013, claiming it was for colleagues, when he knew or ought to have known it was not appropriate.
The inquiry also heard that on 31 March 2014, he was found by gardaí to have in his possession crystal methamphetamine and was arrested.
It followed a search warrant on a premises on Marlborough Road in Donnybrook.
The hospital learned of the matter in media reports of court proceedings in July 2014 and Mr de Lara was suspended from work on pay, pending disciplinary proceedings.
At the inquiry, it is alleged that he failed to notify the hospital that he had been the subject of a Garda investigation.
Mr de Lara, 45, and from the Philippines, is facing allegations of professional misconduct and disability.
Mr McGuigan told the inquiry that the Royal Hospital knew in 2013 that Mr de Lara had ordered Sudafed in other nurses' names, but did not pursue it then.
He claimed that two nurses had been ordering Sudafed to send to the Philippines.
He said Mr de Lara was entitled to rely on what occurred in 2013, to resist it being raised in 2014 in the hospital disciplinary process and now at this inquiry.
Former Director of Nursing Olivia Sinclair said no issues had come to her attention before regarding Mr de Lara's performance.
Ms Sinclair was asked by Mr McGuigan if she ever considered that Mr de Lara was taking Sudafed to make crystal methamphetamine.
She told the inquiry that in hindsight, taking the two drugs together was very sinister and the hospital had heard "nothing to settle our concerns".
Ms Sinclair said the hospital could not trust Mr de Lara in the future.
The inquiry was adjourned until February.
