Doctor arrested in Vikings raid returns to practice, still facing drug trafficking charges

Brendan Hollohan is back in business, practicing medicine at a Conception Bay South clinic despite still facing drug charges related to the Vikings motorcycle club.

A billboard alongside the main road through Manuelsannounces his return to medicine at the Long Pond Medical Clinic.

"Dr. Hollohan now accepting new patients."

• Doctor voluntarily stops practicing medicine after arrestwith Vikings

While he still facescharges for trafficking oxycodone withmembers of a Hell's Angels affiliate club, his new coworkers are not fazed.

"I really don't care," said Thomas Brien, a doctor who runs the clinic with his wife, Yvonne Brien."I know him to be a fine physician who was in need of help, so I offered my assistance."

"He is innocent," Yvonne Brien said.

Hollohan was arrested on the morning ofSept. 28, 2016, as police raided members and associates of the Vikings club.

Around St. John's, a dozen men were arrested by the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary and Royal Mounted Canadian Policefor allegedly dealing cocaine, heroin and fentanyl.

The sweepcame 24 hours after Viking member Al Potter wascharged with second-degree murderfor the 2014 stabbing death of Dale Porter at his home in North River.

Many of those arrested had family ties, and checkered pasts.

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College reverses stance, reissueslicence

The odd man out was Brendan Hollohan, a physician with no criminal record and a practice on Queens Road.

Hollohanvoluntarily gave up his medical licence aftera request by the College ofPhysicians andSurgeons ofNewfoundlandand Labrador.

"The College believes that it is in the public interest that Dr.Hollohan not treat patients while facing criminal charges," said Dr. Linda Inkpen, registrar of the college in anemailed statement at the time.

Hollohan is still facing charges, his lawyer confirmed to CBC News on Wednesday, but his licence was reinstated in October.

"In the spring of 2017, Dr. Hollohan requested that he return to the practice of medicine in Newfoundland and Labrador," Inkpen said on Wednesday.

'I know for a fact that Dr.Hollohandid nothing wrong.'- Dr. Thomas Brien

"He indicated that he pleaded not guiltyto the charges and that a trial had not yet been scheduled."

Inkpen saidthe college "evaluated the circumstances and put safeguards in place to ensure the protection of the public."

While he is allowed to practice medicine again, Hollohan is restricted from prescribing oxycodone or other narcotics, and must undergo monthly practice reviews.

His licence will be reviewed again when his criminal case is resolved.

Hollohanwas also not allowed to return to his former practice located in thesame Queen's Roadbuilding once used by Sean Buckingham, a disgraceddoctorconvicted of trading narcotics for sex.

Buckingham also voluntarily surrendered his medical licence after his arrest, but it was never reinstated.

Colleague confident charges are bogus

According to Thomas Brien, the College did a peer review of Hollohan over the summer before givinghis licence back.

"They had a physician from out of province come in and review his charts from his previous practice," he said."The college deemed him fit to resume his practice, with restrictions, until his court date or until his charges are dropped."

Brien has known Hollohansince university, he said, and is confident in his ability to treat patients.

He is also confident in his innocence.

"I know for a fact that Dr. Hollohan did nothing wrong, that he was falsely accused and that will come out in court," he said. "I certainly have no concerns."