 He received an unconditional pardon in 1856, and completed his studies in Dublin, graduating FRCS in 1857.He practised in Dublin successfully, and in 1862 went to Brisbane, Australia and became well known as one of its leading physicians.O'Doherty was elected a member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly in 1867, in 1872 was responsible for a health act being passed, and was also one of the early opponents of the traffic in kanakas.