Shaun Brady had vowed to fight his dismissal as general secretary

The union's executive sacked Shaun Brady in August after he failed to co-operate with an independent inquiry into alleged financial irregularities.

Mr Brady had vowed to fight his dismissal as general secretary after the union's September conference voted against discussing the case 46 to 19.

But on Friday the union's appeals committee rejected his appeal.

The committee is elected independently of the union's executive and is made up of representatives of each of Aslef's eight districts.

Mr Brady said in September that he would consider other avenues if he lost his appeal.

But an Aslef spokesman today said the appeals committee's decision was the "final stop" in the dispute.