Doctor's medical registration cancelled by High Court over drink driving offences
A doctor, Syed Waqas Ali Bukhari, had his medical registration cancelled by the High Court in June 2026 after a four-day Medical Council inquiry into multiple driving offences committed between 2018 and 2021 while he worked at Cavan General Hospital. The offences included drink driving, driving while disqualified, driving without insurance, and possession of marijuana, and the case came to light when he was asked on an annual retention form about criminal convictions. The Medical Council found him guilty of professional misconduct, and High Court president Mr Justice David Barniville confirmed the cancellation as appropriate and proportionate. Dr. Bukhari, who had been suspended from practising in May 2023 and returned to Pakistan that year, is prohibited from applying to have his name restored to the Irish register of doctors for three years.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court24 Jun
- Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Dr. Syed Waqas Ali Bukhari, a doctor, was involved in multiple driving offences between 2018 and 2021 including drink driving, driving while disqualified, driving without insurance, and possession of marijuana.
- Where
- The offences occurred in Co Cavan, and Dr. Bukhari worked at Cavan General Hospital between 2018 and July 2022.
- When
- The driving offences spanned from June 2018 to July 2021, and the High Court confirmed the cancellation of his registration in June 2026.
- Investigation
- The case came to light when Dr. Bukhari was asked on an annual retention form whether he had been convicted of any criminal offence, and a four-day Medical Council fitness to practise inquiry was held.
- Charges
- He was charged in Cavan court with drunk careless driving, driving without insurance, and possession of marijuana.
- In court
- The Medical Council found him guilty of professional misconduct, and High Court president Mr Justice David Barniville confirmed the cancellation sanction as appropriate and proportionate.
- Sentence
- Dr. Bukhari is prohibited from applying to have his name restored to the Irish register of doctors for three years, and had to do community service and was banned from driving for at least five years.
- Other details
- He had been suspended from practising medicine in May 2023, returned to Pakistan in 2023, and disclosed eight separate driving offences, three of which related to exceeding the alcohol or drug limit.
14 statements extracted from the articles
- whatThe doctor drove a car in Co Cavan without insurance in June 2018 while disqualified for three years after a drink driving conviction (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe inquiry examined allegations of drink-driving in 2019 and driving under the influence of drugs in July 2021 (irishmirror.ie)
- whereDr. Bukhari worked at Cavan General Hospital between 2018 and July 2022 (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe case came to light when the doctor was asked on an annual retention form if he had been convicted of any criminal offence (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationA Medical Council inquiry was held over four days into several allegations (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeHe was charged in Cavan court with drunk careless driving with no insurance and possession of marijuana (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe Medical Council found him guilty of professional misconduct (irishmirror.ie)
- courtHigh Court president Mr Justice David Barniville confirmed the cancellation sanction as appropriate and proportionate (irishmirror.ie)
- courtDr. Bukhari was found guilty of professional misconduct for drink driving, driving without insurance, driving while disqualified and breaching undertakings to the High Court (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceThe doctor is prohibited from applying to have his name restored to the Irish register of doctors for three years (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceHe had to do community service and was banned from driving for at least five years (irishmirror.ie)
- otherHe had been suspended from practising medicine in May 2023 (irishmirror.ie)
- otherDr. Bukhari returned to Pakistan in 2023 and practises there (irishmirror.ie)
- otherHe disclosed eight separate driving offences, three of which related to exceeding the alcohol or drug limit (irishmirror.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 24 Jun2026Doctor convicted of drink driving continued to drive while disqualified
Reports the High Court confirming the Medical Council's cancellation of Dr. Bukhari's registration following a four-day fitness to practise inquiry into multiple driving offences between 2018 and 2021.
accused, Syed Waqas Ali Bukhari, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Syed Waqas Ali Bukhari