Sacked Aslef chief will fight to 'clear his name'

Shaun Brady , the sacked £66,000-a-year chief of train drivers' union Aslef, said today he will fight to clear his name.

He will now launch an appeal against the decision and will also take his case to an employment tribunal. He has not ruled out legal action.

Mr Brady, 41, said today: "I was elected by more than 4,500 members but was sacked by a seven-strong committee. I am deeply upset about what has happened and will continue the fight to clear my name."

Supporters of Mr Brady, a Blairite who won control of the union last year, say the sacking last week by Aslef 's Left-dominated controlling executive committee was politically motivated.

Mr Brady was found guilty of refusing to co-operate with an inquiry into Aslef and its finances.

Meanwhile, his deputy, Mick Blackburn, also faces the sack today on unrelated charges when he appears before the same disciplinary hearing.

He faces one charge of downloading pornography on to an office computer and another of forging a reference for a relative to obtain temporary work at the union. His supporters say he will "rigorously" defend himself.