Sacked Aslef chief Brady gatecrashes AGM

The sacked chief of train drivers' union Aslef today gatecrashed its annual general meeting in an attempt to win back his £66,000-a-year job.

Shaun Brady, 41, was sacked in the wake of a brawl at a barbecue in May where he clashed with union president Martin Samways, who has since resigned. The two ended up in a flowerbed and a member of staff, Julie Atkinson, was struck in the mouth. But Mr Brady was dismissed not for the barbecue incident but because he was found guilty by the union's Left-wing dominated executive committee of failing to cooperate with an inquiry into Aslef and its finances by Matthias Kelly QC.

The former chief, an admitted Blairite who replaced staunch Leftwinger Mick Rix in a surprise election victory last year, robustly denies the charge. Mr Brady maintains the union now has a ?1 million deficit compared with a ?500,000 surplus a year ago - and wants to find out where the money has gone. He today turned up uninvited at Aslef's AGM in Scarborough determined to clear his name. His supporters will try to lodge emergency motions calling for his reinstatement.