Civil servant rails against removal from 10-year post

Date: 07/03/02

By Martin Banks

THE European Parliament has launched proceedings to pension-off a senior civil servant who was sacked by a party group on medical grounds.

Patrick Reynolds was forced to quit as secretary-general of the eurosceptic Europe of Democracies and Diversities (EDD) group 18 months ago. The 55-year-old's appeal against the group's decision was upheld by the Court of First Instance in Luxembourg in January. This week, Parliament officials said they now plan to terminate Reynolds' employment.

Reynolds, who has worked for the institution for ten years, says the move is a 'back-door' way of forcing him out: 'Basically, they don't like the fact that I took them on and won,' he said. 'I have given years of unblemished service to the institution but they've obviously decided to get rid of me because I am considered to be a troublemaker.

'I accept that I have been off sick for some time but that was due to stress caused by my dismissal by the EDD group. I now face the prospect of being classed as an invalid for the rest of my life. This is unfair and ridiculous - I just happen to be unfit for work at present.'

Parliament spokesman David Harley said proceedings had started because Reynolds has been off work for more than 12 months.

'This is normal procedure and has nothing to do with anything else,' he added.

The European Parliament has launched proceedings to pension-off a senior civil servant who was sacked by a party group on medical grounds. Patrick Reynolds was secretary-general of the Europe of Democracies and Diversities (EDD) group.