Aslef deputy sacked over forgery

The union's leader was sacked on Friday

The deputy leader of the train drivers' union Aslef has been sacked, the BBC has learned.

Assistant General Secretary Mick Blackburn was dismissed for forging a reference for his son using headed notepaper.

Charges of downloading a pornographic film were withdrawn through lack of evidence at the hearing before the union's executive on Tuesday.

The union's leader Shaun Brady of the union was dismissed on Friday.

He said he will appeal the decision to dismiss him for "gross misconduct", following a disciplinary hearing of the Aslef union's executive.

Barbecue brawl

The decision is thought to relate to Mr Brady's failure to co-operate with an independent investigation into alleged financial irregularities.

Other internal matters concerning a fight with another union official at a barbecue are yet to be dealt with.

Sources close to Mr Blackburn said he took responsibility for what he had done but did not believe it was a sacking offence, the BBC's Stephen Cape reported.

They said he would appeal against the decision within the next six weeks, Cape said.

It is understood that three other members of staff may also be dismissed over the forging offence but Mick Blackburn wanted to take the full responsibility.

Mr Blackburn and Mr Brady were suspended in May along with Aslef president Martin Samways, after a fracas at a barbecue held at the union's head office in north London.

Mr Samways later resigned.